Shimla: A seven-year-old child was burned alive, and several others, including two women and four children, were feared trapped in a massive fire that broke out early Monday in residential buildings near the old bus stand area of Arki town in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district.
The situation worsened when multiple LPG cylinders exploded, causing the fire to spread rapidly and making it extremely difficult for firefighters to control the blaze.
Solan Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Singh said police and fire brigade teams were on the spot, conducting rescue operations. He added that teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were also deployed to accelerate relief and rescue efforts.
Local legislator Sanjay Awasthi said eight to nine people were feared trapped in the fire. He confirmed that the deceased child belonged to a family of migrant labourers.
Officials reported that six to seven cylinders exploded, intensifying the blaze and causing extensive damage to nearby structures.
State BJP President Rajiv Bindal and Member of Parliament Suresh Kashyap expressed grief over the tragedy, saying the incident has shaken the entire state. “The untimely death of the child is extremely tragic. May God grant peace to the departed soul and give strength to the bereaved family to bear this unbearable pain,” they said. They urged the administration to continue the search for the missing people on a war footing and provide all possible assistance to the affected families immediately.
Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, and MP Anurag Thakur also expressed deep sorrow over the incident, extending condolences to the family of the deceased child and praying for the speedy and safe recovery of the injured and missing persons.
The BJP leadership called for immediate steps to ensure rehabilitation and compensation for traders and families who suffered heavy financial losses in the tragedy.
With IANS inputs