Shimla: A house fire in Kutara village of Rohru subdivision in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district claimed the life of a 70-year-old woman late Monday night.
The blaze engulfed a two-story wooden house, leaving it completely destroyed. Two additional fires in Kumarsain and Nankhari caused significant property losses, with damage estimated in lakhs.
Narrow escape for many in Kutara village
The fire in Kutara village started around 9 pm at Shyam Lal’s house, where family members, including children, were present.
The wooden structure allowed the flames to spread rapidly, and despite the villagers’ immediate efforts to control the fire using pumps and water from their tanks, the inferno consumed the house before fire engines from Rohru could arrive.
In the chaos, family members managed to escape, but the elderly woman was left behind. Her charred remains were later recovered from the debris. Villager Pradeep Machhan stated, “Despite our best efforts, the fire spread too quickly. It’s heartbreaking to lose a life.”
Fires in Kumarsain, Nankhari villages
In a separate incident in Ardhoth village of Kumarsain, a two-storeyed house owned by Chet Ram was destroyed Sunday night. The fire reportedly began at 9.30 pm and razed the house, including three rooms, a kitchen, clothes, bedding, and other belongings.
Similarly, in Dharuja village of Nankhari tehsil, a fire consumed another two-storeyed house. The fire is believed to have originated from surrounding forest flames, intensifying the destruction.
The three fires highlight the vulnerability of wooden structures and the challenges of firefighting in remote areas. Local authorities have initiated investigations into the causes of the fires and are assessing the total losses.