‘Haunted, jinxed’: Myths leave Shimla govt houses ‘unpopular’

SHIMLA: There exists a shortage of government accommodation in Shimla even as many are shunned for being either “haunted” or “unlucky”.

As per the Government General Administration’s (GAD’S) list of “unpopular” houses, there are no takers for more than 200 government residences in Shimla. The reason, an official said, was people didn’t prefer living in them.

Director, estate office, Amarjeet Singh, said, “There is always a rush for government accommodation, but a few are least preferred for one or the other reason. Government carried out repair work in many of them.”

There are 1,848 government houses in Shimla that are under the control of the GAD wing, which include Type VII, VI, V, IV, II, II and I quarters and bungalows. Requirement, however, is much more, said an official.

An official with the estate branch in Shimla said, two years ago, we drew a proposal, stating that as many as 30,000 houses were required in the general pool. “Many of these unpopular houses are in a dilapidated condition, while a few have been declared unsafe for living,” the official added.

A few of the British-era houses in Shimla have, over the years, earned the reputation of being “ghostly”, said an official.

Shimla was the summer capital for the British. Such quarters are located in Richmond, United Service club, Nabha estate, Brockhurst, Bemloe , Kasumpti, and Nabha estate.

Some of the occupants of the said “unpopular” houses claimed to have experienced “paranormal activities”. “I lived in a government accommodation in Brockhurst, and witnessed paranormal activities. I held many yagyas (rituals)... Later, we shifted...,” said a gazetted officer, requesting anonymity.

Till a few years ago, even the official residence of the chief minister, Oakover, was perceived as being “jinxed”. It was believed that “something wrong in the building was preventing chief ministers from completing their terms”. Prem Kumar Dhumal, who became the chief minister in 1998, was reluctant to move to Oakover, and moved only after a havan (ritual) was conducted. He completed his term.

Previously, Dr Yashwant Singh Parmar, the first chief minister (CM) of Himachal Pradesh who moved in the building, faced ouster shortly. Another CM, Thakur Ram Lal, could not complete his tenure. Shanta Kumar, too, had moved into the house in 1977 but his government was dismissed five months later.

Corner house, the official residence of municipal chiefs, is another such accommodation that is believed to be “jinxed”.