Dharamshala, Jan. 11 -- Fifteen families were evacuated after two residential buildings and a hotel near an under-construction tunnel developed cracks in the Chalaunthi area of Shimla on Friday night, officials said on Saturday. The evacuation began Friday night when the cracks suddenly widened, triggering panic among residents. With no immediate alternative shelter, around 40 people from the affected families, including children and the elderly, were forced to spend several hours on the street with their belongings in freezing temperatures.

This comes barely 1.5 months after a 15-ft deep sinkhole opened up on the Dhalli-Bypass road in Bhattakufar, and six months after a five-storeyed residential building collapsed in Mathu Colony of Bha...