4 houses gutted in early morning fire at Rohru village in Shimla

Mandi: A major fire broke out at Seri village in the Samarkot area of Rohru subdivision in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh, reducing four homes to ashes and leaving their occupants shelter-less.
The fire broke out around 4 am on Monday (November 11, 2024) in one house and quickly spread to neighboring homes. It was triggered by the explosion of gas cylinders stored in a kitchen.
The villagers watched helplessly as the wooden structures burnt rapidly, sending flames high into the sky. One cow too perished in the fire. A nearby house where a wedding ceremony was underway was narrowly saved.
Firefighting teams from Rohru, Chirgaon and Jubbal were called in to battle the blaze, but it took four fire tenders about three and a half hours to bring the flames under control. However, for the affected families, the loss has been devastating, with many now homeless before the onset of winter. Initial investigations suggested that a short circuit may have caused the fire, said an official.
Rohru DSP Ravinder Negi confirmed that while no human casualties were reported, the damage to property was significant. “Four homes were completely destroyed and a cow perished. The exact cause of the fire is under investigation,” he said.
Local authorities have started assessing the damage, with Rohru’s Tehsildar saying that immediate relief and temporary shelter would be provided to the affected families. “We will ensure that those displaced receive adequate support and shelter. Further, we are looking into preventive measures that could help avoid such devastating fires in the future,” he said.