A seven-year-old child was burned alive and several others, including two women and four children, were feared trapped after a massive fire broke out early today in residential buildings near the old bus stand area of Arki town in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district.
The blaze intensified rapidly after multiple LPG cylinders exploded, hampering rescue efforts and causing the fire to spread to nearby structures. Officials said the explosions made it difficult for fire personnel to bring the situation under control.
Solan Superintendent of Police Gaurav Singh said police and fire brigade teams were immediately rushed to the spot and rescue operations are underway. He confirmed that teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have also been deployed to accelerate relief and rescue work.
Local legislator Sanjay Awasthi said eight to nine people are feared trapped in the affected buildings. He added that the deceased child belonged to a family of migrant labourers residing in the area.
According to officials, at least six to seven LPG cylinders exploded during the fire, significantly increasing its intensity and causing extensive damage to surrounding residential and commercial structures. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, and authorities said further details would emerge once the situation is fully brought under control.
Emergency teams continued search operations amid challenging conditions, with thick smoke and structural instability posing risks to rescuers. Officials said all efforts are being made to trace those feared trapped and to prevent further spread of the fire.
Political leaders across parties expressed grief over the incident. State BJP President Rajiv Bindal and Member of Parliament Suresh Kashyap described the incident as deeply distressing and said it 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 in a joint statement.
They urged the district administration to conduct search operations on a war footing and ensure immediate assistance to the affected families.
Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur and MP Anurag Thakur also expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy. They conveyed condolences to the family of the deceased child and prayed for the safe recovery of those injured or missing.
The BJP leadership further called for immediate steps to be taken towards rehabilitation and compensation for traders and families who have suffered heavy financial losses due to the fire.
Authorities said rescue and relief operations will continue until all missing persons are accounted for, and further assessments of damage will be carried out once the area is secured.
