Major fire in Himachal kills 3; several buildings destroyed

Three people, including an eight-year-old child, died in a major fire that broke out in the Old Bus Stand area of the Arki market in the Solan district, police said on Monday.

The fire, which started late Sunday night, destroyed several shops and buildings. Authorities fear that a few individuals may still be trapped in the debris.

So far, three bodies have been recovered from the site, according to Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh.

The deceased child has been identified as Priyansh, a resident of Bihar. An inquiry has been ordered into the cause of the fire, which ignited around 2.45 am, Deputy Commissioner of Solan, Manmohan Sharma said. The blaze originated from a wooden building and spread rapidly to adjacent structures, he added. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has expressed sorrow over the incident and has instructed the deputy commissioner to initiate immediate relief and rescue efforts.

Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthi, who was at the spot, said that considerable damage had been caused to 10 to 15 shops and houses. Additionally, he informed that some locals from Nepal are missing, and a search is underway to locate them.

Awasthi mentioned that the cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

Fire tenders from Arki, Solan, Nalagarh, and Boileauganj in Shimla, as well as support from the Ambuja plant, were deployed to douse the blaze, which was brought under control.