Solan Blaze Had K*illed Ten
Munish Sood
Mandi
Himachal Pradesh has been rocked by a series of devastating fire tragedies in recent days, raising serious concerns over winter safety in hill towns and remote villages. After the recent Arki market inferno in Solan district that claimed ten lives, another horrific fire has now struck Sirmaur — the home district of the Congress state president — leaving five people burnt alive and several families shattered.
Five Burnt Alive in Sirmaur Village Fire
The latest tragedy occurred late last night in Telagna village of Ghanduri Gram Panchayat, located about 15 kilometres from Nohra Dhar in Sirmaur district. A massive fire broke out in a residential house where eight people were present at the time.
Two people were rescued, but five others were trapped inside and burnt alive as the flames spread rapidly. One critically injured person has been referred to Solan for advanced medical treatment.
Preliminary information suggests the fire may have started from an angithi (traditional heater) kept outside the house. Soon after, a gas cylinder exploded, triggering a massive blaze that engulfed three to four nearby houses within minutes.
Rescue and relief operations are underway. The situation was made even more difficult as the village has no mobile network connectivity, delaying communication and emergency response.
Local MLA and Congress leader Vinay Kumar confirmed the incident and the death toll. Expressing deep grief, he termed the tragedy extremely painful and said the administration has been directed to conduct an immediate investigation and extend all possible assistance to the affected families. He has also left Delhi and is on his way to the spot to meet the victims’ families.
He appealed to people across the hill state to exercise extreme caution during winter, especially while using heaters, angithis and gas cylinders, and to ensure all fires are extinguished before going to sleep.
Solan’s Arki Market Fire Had K*illed Ten
The Sirmaur tragedy comes close on the heels of a massive blaze in Arki market of Solan district, where a four-storey building was gutted in a late-night fire, killing ten people, including women and children.
The building housed shops on the ground floor and families living on the upper floors. The fire spread rapidly after multiple gas cylinders exploded, turning the structure into a death trap. Several victims were trapped inside and could not escape as the wooden building collapsed into flames.
Rescue teams worked through the debris for hours, and a magisterial inquiry has been ordered into the incident.
Growing Safety Concerns in Hill Regions
These back-to-back tragedies have once again highlighted the vulnerability of hill towns and remote villages during winter, where wooden structures, heating fires, gas cylinders and limited emergency access often turn accidents into major disasters.
With temperatures dipping sharply across the state, authorities have urged residents to follow strict fire safety measures to prevent further loss of life.
