Shimla, June 14
The ongoing heatwave in Himachal Pradesh has intensified forest and grass fires, resulting in another tragic death within 24 hours.
Abhishek, a 12-year-old boy from the Giripar area, succumbed to severe burns after trying to extinguish a grass fire in Dimanu village, Sirmour district. The tragedy occured when on Sunday a fierce blaze broke out, and residents rushed to the scene. Abhishek, the son of Mohan Singh, accidentally fell into the flames. Despite immediate rescue efforts, he sustained critical injuries and was transported to Civil Hospital Paonta Sahib. He was then referred to PGI Chandigarh, where he fought for his life for four days before passing away on Thursday morning.
This tragedy follows the death of 75-year-old Nikki Devi in Bhagetu village, Hamirpur district. She was caught in a forest fire while working in her fields and could not escape the flames. Despite efforts to save her, she was pronounced dead at Medical College Hamirpur.
The region has reported 239 fire incidents in Hamirpur alone, affecting over 2,300 hectares of forest. The persistent heatwave continues to pose a severe risk, prompting authorities to urge residents to exercise extreme caution and prioritize safety when dealing with fires.
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