REMOTE SHIMLA VILLAGE GUTTED
TRAGEDY 48 houses gutted, about a dozen sheep perish
SHIMLA: At least 48 houses were gutted in a massive fire that broke out in Benwarhi, a remote village in Shimla district’s Rohru sub-division, on Saturday.
Though no loss of life was reported, the fire affected nearly 300 persons, who were rendered homeless.
“The fire razed the entire village, barring a few structures. The fire also gutted the temple of Mahasu, the village’s local deity. Ornaments made of gold and silver, and traditional musical instruments were also destroyed,” Shimla deputy commissioner Rohan Chand told Hindustan Times.
According to reports, about a dozen sheep also perished in the fire.
“Though the exact cause of fire has not yet been ascertained, there are reports that the fire broke out from the house of the village lambardar,” the deputy commissioner added.
Meanwhile, fire tenders reached the spot only two hours after the fire engulfed the entire village.
Fire tenders stationed in Rohru, nearly 40 kilometres from Benwarhi village, were pressed into service but the poor condition of roads hampered the movement.
"As soon as the fire broke out, we immediately informed the fire station in Rohru. But the roads here are in a bad shape.
It has hindered its speed," says Bhagat Ram, Pradhan of Tangnu Panchayat.
“The strong winds further fanned the fire," he added.
"By the time the fire tenders reached the spot, the entire village burning," said Padam Chand, a village resident. "All my belongings were destroyed in the fire," he said.
The fire spread rapidly in the village as houses were built close to each other.
A majority of the destroyed houses were made of wood in the traditional Kathkhuni hill architecture.
Combustible material like wood and hay stacked in houses made the village more vulnerable to fire.
Families that lost houses moved to their relatives in the surrounding villages.
"Few of them have been lodged at a community centre and government school in Tangnu village," said a government official in Rohru.
The district administration dispersed an immediate relief of ₹40,000 each to families that who lost their houses while blankets and warm clothing were also distributed.
The villagers have been paid in accordance with the relief manual and the loss is being estimated," said the deputy commissioner.
CAUSE OF FIRE YET TO BE ASCERTAINED; ADMN ANNOUNCES ₹40,000 RELIEF EACH FOR FAMILIES WHOSE HOUSES WERE GUTTED