Shimla, Jan 2,
A devastating fire in Tandi village, located in Banjar (Kullu district), has left a trail of destruction, consuming 17 houses and six cowsheds, leaving families shattered emotionally and financially on the first day of the new year.
Preliminary estimates by authorities peg the loss at over ₹10 crore, a figure expected to rise as assessments continue.
How the fire spread
Reportedly the fire originated in a cowshed and rapidly spread to nearby houses due to the flammable materials like dry wood and grass. Despite the prompt response from the fire department, the blaze proved challenging to control.
The flames destroyed not only the homes and essential belongings of the affected families but also winter stockpiles of food and sacred offerings stored in local deity shrines. Sacred belongings of deities like Gadapati Sheshnag, Latoda Ji, and Vishnu Narayan Bhua were also consumed by the fire.
Impact
Although no casualties were reported, the 17 displaced families now face the daunting challenge of rebuilding their lives from scratch. Several families, who had been running homestays for their livelihood, saw their businesses reduced to ashes, leaving them with no means of income.
Local MLA Surender Shourie and SDM Pankaj Sharma promptly visited the site to assess the situation. The administration has provided immediate relief in the form of ₹15,000 per family, along with blankets, utensils, and other necessities. Temporary shelters have also been arranged for the affected families.
MLA Shourie assured the victims that efforts are underway to secure additional financial aid from the state government to assist in rebuilding homes and restoring normalcy.
However reports indicate that the tragedy extends beyond financial losses. The destruction of sacred offerings has dealt a significant blow to the region’s cultural and religious heritage. Additionally, the local economy, largely dependent on tourism and homestay businesses, has suffered a severe setback.
Now the challange is for authorities who need to expedite efforts to provide housing, employment opportunities, and measures to revitalize the local economy.
Moreover, the incident underlines the importance of implementing robust fire safety measures to prevent similar disasters in the future.
