Timber depot gutted in Shimla, 180 labourers rendered homeless

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 25

As many as 180 labourers lost their earnings and were rendered homeless after their hostel was gutted, along with a nearby timber depot, causing a loss of several lakhs to the property in Lakkar Bazar here today. But no loss of life was reported. Four fire tenders rushed to the spot from The Ridge, but the fire had engulfed the dry timber woods and the adjoining old wooden labour hostel dated back to the British days.

“We rushed out as we saw huge flames engulfing the building and timber depot,” recalled Shabir, a labourer from Jammu and Kashmir. All our fellow labourers were out for day work and we were cooking meal when the fire broke out around 11 am, rued the labourers, who failed to save their belongings.

Shimla Mayor Sanjay Chauhan, who monitors the fire-fighting and relief operations, said over 180 labourers, including 124 khans who used to pay rent to the Shimla MC, lost all their belongings and the loss was close to Rs 1 crore.

Chauhan said the SMC had provided the shelter to displaced Khans at a Rain Basera near the Auckland tunnel and Chaura Maidan. “We are waiting for relief to fire-hit Khans from the district administration,” the Mayor added.

He said the SMC had earmarked Rs 4 crore to build four labour hostels.

SDM, urban, Hemis Negi said a revenue team was assessing the loss and would provide compensation as per the relief manual. The police ruled out a foul play in the fire incident, saying that the exact cause of fire was being probed.