A devastating fire swept through Tandi village in Kullu’s Banjar subdivision, reducing around 20 houses, fodder, and cow sheds to ashes.
The fire, which started from a fodder shed, spread rapidly due to strong winds and the predominantly wooden construction of the houses.
According to Banjar SDM Pankaj Sharma, the primary loss is estimated to be around Rs 10 crore, with ornaments and jewellery in the ‘kothi’ (store) of deity Gadpati Sheshnag also destroyed in the blaze. Fortunately, there were no casualties or livestock losses reported.
The fire tenders from Banjar, Largi, and Kullu were rushed to the scene, but the flames were not fully doused until the filing of this report.
The SDM said the district administration has provided relief materials, food, and shelter to the affected families, with temporary tents to be pitched if required.
Kullu district has witnessed several major fire incidents in recent years. The villages in the district primarily consist of wooden houses built in the traditional ‘Kath-Kuni’ architecture, which are often adjacent to each other.
To mitigate the risk of fires, Kullu District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has identified locations in remote villages to construct RCC and prefabricated tanks.
These tanks will be connected to pipelines and fire hydrants to tackle fires in rural areas with limited road access and far from fire stations.
The district administration plans to install large water tanks in areas with dense populations, traditional ‘Kath-Kuni’ style wooden houses, and high fire risk. Although this proposal was initiated a couple of years ago, progress has been slow.
The exact cause of the fire is still unknown, and a magisterial inquiry will be conducted.
