Fire causes Rs 2.47 crore loss in Mandi

Shimla, Nov 9 (UNI) A devastating fire gutted 23 shops and five residential houses in Mandi town of Himachal Pradesh late last night, causing an estimated loss of Rs 2.47 crore, official and police sources today said.

The fire, which started from a shop near Bhutnath Temple at round midnight, soon spread to the adjoining shops made of highly inflammable deodar timber and houses, completely destroying 23 shops and five residential houses.

Sources said as though no loss of life was reported in the incident, one person whose shop was gutted in the incident died of shock early morning today.

Fire and district police personnel battled to control the five for over four hours sources said, adding that it had caused an estimated loss of over Rs 2.47 crore.

Unofficial sources put the loss of property in the incident at over Rs 10 crore.

Fire tenders from Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and NTPC were rushed to the site to assist the local fire and police personnel in putting out the fire, sources said.

Mandi SDM B S Dehal said the district administration has distributed an immediate relief of Rs 10,000 each to people whose shops were destroyed in the fire, Rs 25,000 each to the affected families and Rs 500 each to people who suffered minor injuries.

MORE UNI AS HS PB VC1908