Rainwater Floods Stalls at Shimla’s Winter Carnival, Sparks Protests

Shimla Dec 28

Rainwater once again entered stalls set up at the historic Ridge in Shimla for the Winter Carnival, damaging merchandise and halting business activities. Vendors, including local traders and self-help group members, reported significant losses.

Shimla Mayor Surendra Chauhan visited the site on Saturday afternoon to address the complaints. Vendors demonstrated the waterlogged conditions and requested rent reductions. Businessman Gaurav Nagpal stated that nearly ₹1 lakh was spent on setting up stalls, but the goods were ruined due to waterlogging.

Despite the Municipal Corporation team’s efforts to clear the water, continuous rain caused repeated flooding. During the inspection, a vendor confronted the mayor, demanding a rent reduction, leading to a heated exchange. However, other vendors intervened to calm the situation.

To alleviate concerns, the mayor announced an extension for the stalls until January 5 without additional fees. The situation underscores the challenges faced by small businesses during the carnival season amidst adverse weather.