3-storey building catches fire in Kullu village
Traditional architecture, geographic isolation to blame for recurring disasters in Malana
A fire broke out in a residential building at Malana village of Kullu district on Monday, causing panic and significant financial loss to the owner.
The incident occurred in a three-storey house of Khimi Ram around 7.15 pm. According to initial reports, the fire originated on the second floor of the structure and rapidly engulfed it. The narrow lanes and remote location of the village posed an immediate challenge.
However, the crisis was met with swift community action. Local residents gathered at the spot without delay and through mutual cooperation managed to bring the blaze under control before it could spread to adjacent properties.
Their bravery averted a much larger catastrophe, as the flames could have easily spread to neighbouring homes. Preliminary assessments estimate the damage to be around Rs 8 lakh, with household items and the wooden framework of the floor suffering partial damage. However, no loss of life was reported.
Malana has a tragic history with fire, largely due to its traditional architecture and geographic isolation.
In 2008, a fire that started on a May morning gutted over 150 houses and six temples, including the revered shrine of the presiding deity, Jamlu Devta. That blaze rendered over 900 villagers homeless and caused an estimated loss of Rs 15 crore.
The cause of these recurring fire incidents is deeply rooted in the village’s traditional lifestyle. The houses, built in the ancient Kathkuni style, are primarily made of wood and are constructed close together. Furthermore, the practice of storing dry grass for cattle and firewood for the harsh winter inside or near homes provides ample fuel for any spark, whether from a short circuit or a kitchen tandoor, to turn into an inferno. The terrain adds to the tragedy; the steep, unmotorable paths, leaving the villagers to fight the flames with traditional methods and limited resources.
The resilience of the Malana community, however, remains undeterred. Just as they rebuilt after the 2008 devastation and another major fire in October 2021 that destroyed 16 houses, the villagers once again displayed courage in the face of adversity on Monday. As local administration begins the process of assessing the damage and providing necessary aid, the people of Malana are left to yet again count their losses and begin the slow process of recovery, their unique heritage once again threatened by the very elements that define it.
