Shimla, Aug. 14 -- Cracks appearing in houses and the surrounding terrain at Shakrala village near Himachal Pradesh's capital Shimla have triggered fear among residents, with the district administration seeking a detailed geological assessment even as environmental experts have called for a scientific evaluation of the area before attributing the issue to any particular cause.

Shimla Deputy Commissioner of Shimla District administration, Anupam Kashyap said the administration had sought an assessment from the Geological Survey of India (GSI), besides approaching the State Disaster Management Authority and the Civil Engineering Department of Himachal Pradesh University for expert opinion.

"Some cracks have been reported in houses, and th...