What is the story about?
A massive fire broke out in the Old Bus Stand area in the Arki subdivision of Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. An eight-year-old boy died in the fire,
while two people suffered burns, police said on Monday. At least nine people, all Nepali-origin migrant labourers, are feared to be trapped, according to ANI. The fire that broke out late Sunday night gutted several shops. The fire erupted around 2-2:30 am in the night and quickly engulfed several shops and adjoining buildings, triggering a large-scale rescue operation involving fire services, SDRF, Home Guards and local administration. The reason behind the fire is yet to be ascertained.
The affected structures were mostly wooden storage buildings, which caused the fire to spread rapidly, according to Arki Tehsildar Vipin Kumar.
Vipin Kumar, Arki's Tehsildar and local revenue officer, old ANI, "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."
The deceased boy was identified as Bihar resident Priyansh. The boy was charred in a UCO Bank branch that also caught the fire, Solan Superintendent of Police Solan Gaurav Singh said on Monday, as reported by PTI.
"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 said. "The fire has been brought under control, but two to three buildings have suffered damage," he added.
An enquiry has been ordered into the fire that sparked around 2.45 am on Sunday, Solan Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma said. The blaze started from a building, made of wood, and spread wildly to other structures, he said. The injured are being treated at the Arki Civil Hospital, Sharma said. A few people from Nepal are missing and are being looked for, he said.
Arki MLA Sanjay Awasthi, who was at the spot, said considerable damage had been caused to 10 to 15 shops and houses. Awasthi said what sparked the fire has not been ascertained yet.
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Monday expressed grief over the fire incident. He has directed the officials to provide immediate assistance to the ones affected by the fire.
"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," CM Sukhu's X post read.
