Shimla, Jan. 10 -- Panic gripped the Chalaunthi area of Shimla late Friday night when large cracks suddenly appeared in a six-storey residential building, forcing authorities to order its evacuation around 10 pm.
Around 15 families, mostly tenants living near the cremation ground on Chalaunthi outskirts, were compelled to leave their homes in haste, braving the cold along with children and elderly members.
Cracks soon appeared in several nearby houses and a hotel, prompting precautionary evacuations. Tourists staying at the hotel were also asked to vacate. Cracks were further reported along the Dhali-Sanjauli bypass road, leading authorities to suspend vehicular traffic late at night and deploy police to secure the area.
Residents linked...