Shimla: Fire in Kot khai half a dozen shops, post offices, panchayat ghars, ration depots, two godowns, a clinic and two rented houses were burnt to ashes in the horrific fire on Tuesday night at Kotkhai in Upper Shimla. The fire was so strong that it took fire personnel 4 to 5 hours to overcome it. The incident took place in Prem Nagar, five kilometers from Kotkhai. Although there was no known loss during this period, property and government records of crores were destroyed. Also, their means of livelihood have been snatched away from shopkee
pers. The cause of the fire could not be ascertained. The fire damage is being assessed by the administration. After about 4 hours on fire, fire could be controlled by fire engines. Locals also tried to control the fire by lifting water from the adjacent drain. Due to the magnitude of the fire, the people living in the houses adjacent to the scene had started taking out their valuables.
Those who were affected by the fire include Hari Gopal, Pankaj, Purna Chand, Sahi Ram and Balak Ram. A private doctor’s clinic was also gutted in the fire. Apart from this, important government records were destroyed due to the ashes of ration depots, panchayat ghars and post offices. ASI Hetram of Kotkhai police present at the scene said that about a dozen houses were destroyed in this fire incident. These include shops, post offices, panchayat ghars, ration depots, godowns, clinics and rented houses. The fire could be controlled around 3 am. A case is being registered in this regard.