Arki blaze claims young life, eight missing as congested market turns death trap
Photo used for indicative purpose only. Source: Internet
Arki/Solan, Jan 12,
A devastating fire that tore through the congested market area of Arki late Sunday night has claimed the life of an eight-year-old girl, while eight others—including four children—remain missing, raising grave fears of a higher death toll.
The blaze, which broke out around midnight in a two-storey residential-cum-commercial building, quickly turned catastrophic as multiple LPG cylinders stored inside the structure and nearby shops exploded in succession. The deafening blasts sent shockwaves through the market, triggering panic among residents who fled their homes in the darkness to escape the flames.
According to eyewitnesses, the ground floor of the building housed several shops, while the upper floor was occupied by labourers from Nepal and Bihar. The fire spread rapidly due to the closely packed nature of the market, engulfing adjacent shops and structures within minutes.
Fire brigade teams rushed to the spot soon after the alarm was raised and battled the inferno for several hours. The flames were finally brought under control in the early morning hours, but not before extensive damage was done. Several shops were completely gutted, with merchandise worth lakhs of rupees reduced to ashes.
During initial rescue operations, the charred body of an eight-year-old girl was recovered from the debris. Eight persons—two women, two men and four children—are still unaccounted for. Search and rescue operations are continuing, with teams carefully clearing debris to trace the missing and rule out further casualties.
Local MLA Sanjay Awasthi, who visited the site, said the fire reportedly erupted around 2:30 am, adding that the exact cause of the incident is yet to be determined. He assured that rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures are being undertaken on a priority basis and that affected families would receive all possible assistance
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