A devastating fire broke out late Sunday night in the Old Bus Stand area of Arki subdivision, Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, leaving at least one child dead and several people injured. The fire reportedly gutted multiple shops and residential structures, triggering a large-scale rescue operation.
The eight-year-old boy, Priyansh, who was a victim, died after he was rescued from the fire. Two people suffered burns and were undergoing treatment at Arki Civil Hospital. There is a concern that nine Nepalese migrant workers might still be stuck in the fire-affected area, ANI reported.
Fire spreads rapidly
The fire broke out at approximately 2 to 2:30 am and engulfed wooden shops and other buildings in no time. Arki Tehsildar Vipin Kumar stated that approximately 10 to 15 shops were reduced to ashes, and SDRF, Home Guards, and fire departments were mobilised right away to deal with the situation. Fire trucks were also fetched from Baluganj, Shimla, and the Ambuja Cement Factory because Arki has no fully equipped fire tender fire station.
"We received information about the incident around 2:30-3 am. Nearly 10-15 shops were gutted in the fire. We immediately deployed SDRF, Home Guards and fire services during the night itself. One child was rescued but later succumbed in the hospital," Vipin Kumar, Arki's Tehsildar and local revenue officer, told ANI.
Rescue operations and support
Solan's Deputy Commissioner, Manmohan Sharma, said, "The fire has been brought under control, but two to three buildings have suffered damage." "Nine people are still trapped; all are Nepali-origin migrant labourers. The fire tenders from Baluganj, Shimla, were rushed in as the nearest support, since Arki does not have a fully equipped fire tender unit. Fire tenders from Ambuja Cement Factory also reached the spot and provided major assistance", he told PTI.
Himachal CM expresses grief
Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu condoled over the incident and asked authorities to extend immediate help to the affected people. "The tragic incident of the fire in Arki market is extremely heartbreaking. The news of the untimely demise of an innocent child in this accident is deeply distressing to the heart. In this hour of difficulty, my deepest condolences are with the bereaved family. I pray to God that He grant peace to the departed soul and give the family members the strength to bear this unbearable sorrow. I wish for the swift recovery of those injured. This irreparable loss is a profound blow to all of us", he wrote on X.
The rescue teams are still working, searching for the missing persons while keeping the nearby residents safe.
