Fire in heritage town of Chamba

Shimla: A fire broke out at a busy locality in the heritage town of Chamba in the wee hours on Sunday destroying property worth crores.

About a dozen shops and four heavily timbered old buildings were reduced to ashes and around two dozen people were rendered shelter less. However, there was no loss of life. The cause of fire was not known but it spread very fast as all wooden structures were engulfed in flames.

The fire was noticed at around 3.30 AM and besides the local fire brigade, finder tenders of ITBP, NHPC were pressed into service and fire tenders from Pathankot and Dharamsala were also summoned, Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, Sharab Negi told. The local police, district administration, Police, Home Guards, ITBP and NHPC men fought the flames for nearly five hours and fire was brought under control by 8.00 AM, he added.

He said that a major tragedy was averted as fire was controlled before it could spread to surrounding buildings in heavily populated market area.

PTI