India, June 30 -- Hours after it was evacuated when cracks started appearing, a five-storeyed residential building collapsed in the Bhattakuffar area of Shimla as heavy rain continued to pound Himachal Pradesh on Monday, officials said.

Though there was no casualty in the incident that occurred in Mathu Colony situated on the road leading to Chamyana Super Specialty Hospital, it triggered panic as residents of nearby buildings. Preliminary reports suggest that cracks developed due to the ongoing four-lane road construction in the area, which could have weakened the foundation of the building. The district authorities are now assessing the damage and the stability of surrounding structures.

Trade at the Bhattakuffar Fruit Mandi was disru...