Residents in Murree have raised an alarm over a fresh landslide threat at the Jhika Gali Chowk remodelling project.
The top judicial and political authorities have been urged to intervene before the situation worsens.
Locals say the project has already put several houses at risk, with some nearing collapse and deep cracks appearing in nearby land.
They warned that further slope movement could cause far greater damage if preventive action is not taken immediately.
According to residents, concerns about the site’s stability are not new.
They said the remodelling project has already damaged the old colonial-era market in Jhika Gali, affecting local businesses and livelihoods, while previous development work in the area also created similar problems.
They pointed to an earlier government-backed parking plaza project on the opposite side of the market, where major ground subsidence reportedly occurred during construction.
Locals claim that controlling the damage took years and cost the government heavily, yet lessons from that experience were not properly applied before work resumed in Jhika Gali.
Residents also said officials had earlier been warned that widening the chowk could be dangerous because shops and structures on the valley-facing side are built on weak ground.
They insist that a detailed geotechnical investigation should have been carried out before any expansion work was undertaken.
The latest concern comes just hours after heavy rain triggered landslides in Murree, bringing renewed focus to vulnerable areas such as Jhika Gali.
Deputy Commissioner Agha Zaheer Abbas Shirazi said the district administration is taking steps to support affected residents.
Rescue teams have been deployed in and around Jhika Gali, families have been shifted to safer locations, and machinery, medical teams, and other emergency staff remain on site to clear debris, restore access, and provide basic supplies.
