Arki market inferno: Three bodies recovered, six still trapped as rescue enters critical phase
Solan, Jan 12,
The death toll in the devastating Arki market fire is feared to rise further as rescue teams recovered charred remains of three persons from the debris of a collapsed residential building near the old bus stand early Monday, while six more people are still suspected to be trapped, officials said.
According to an official press note issued by the district administration, the fire broke out at around 3 am in a three-storey residential structure located in the old bus stand area of Arki. The building, largely made of wood, was completely engulfed by flames and subsequently collapsed, trapping its occupants under the rubble.
Initial reports indicate that ten people were present inside the building at the time of the incident. Rescue teams managed to pull out one critically injured child alive, who was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to injuries during treatment. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has so far recovered three severely burnt body remains, which will now undergo forensic examination to establish identity.
Officials said six persons are still believed to be buried under debris, and the rescue operation is continuing under challenging conditions using heavy machinery. Teams from the SDRF, Fire Department, Police, and local administration are working round-the-clock at the site, while an NDRF unit has also been requisitioned to strengthen the operation.
The victims include members of two migrant families from Nepal, who were living on rent in the ill-fated building. The district administration has released details of those missing, including men, women, teenagers, and children as young as 1.6 years, highlighting the scale of the tragedy.
Preliminary findings suggest the fire may have been triggered by a brazier lit to keep warm amid severe cold conditions, which possibly ignited the wooden structure. The situation worsened after LPG cylinders stored inside exploded, causing the fire to spread rapidly to nearby shops in the congested market area.
Fire tenders from Arki, Solan, Nalagarh, Sapathu, Banalgi, Boileauganj, and the Ambuja Cement Plant at Darlaghat were pressed into service. Despite the multi-agency response, the blaze had already caused extensive damage by the time it was brought under control.
More than a dozen shops were gutted, with preliminary loss estimates running into several crores of rupees. The district administration has announced immediate relief for affected families, and senior officers have been deployed on-site to monitor rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
Local MLA Sanjay Awasthi and senior civil and police officials visited the spot while CM Sukhu mourned the incident, as grief and shock continue to grip Arki and the wider Solan district. Authorities said further details will be shared once the rescue operation is completed and the situation becomes clearer.
About the Author
The HimachalScape Bureau comprises seasoned journalists from Himachal Pradesh with over 25 years of experience in leading media conglomerates such as The Times of India and United News of India. Known for their in-depth regional insights, the team brings credible, research-driven, and balanced reportage on Himachal’s socio-political and developmental landscape.
