Almost entire hamlet reduced to ashes in Banjar subdivision

In a devastating fire that broke out this afternoon in the remote Jhaniyar village of Nuhanda Panchayat in the Banjar subdivision of Kullu district, 16 residential houses, four cowsheds, and two temples were completely gutted, rendering several families homeless in the biting winter cold. The incident occurred around 1:30 pm when flames erupted in a double-storey cowshed belonging to Kailash Chand.

According to preliminary reports, the fire is suspected to have started from a ‘padhacha’ (a structure where grass and fodder are stored) and spread rapidly due to strong winds. The houses in the village were mostly wooden, typical of the Tirthan Valley architecture, which caused the flames to engulf adjoining homes within minutes. The blaze spread uncontrollably, reducing almost the entire hamlet to ashes before any firefighting help could reach.

The affected Jhaniyar village lies within the ecozone of the UNESCO World Heritage Site — the Great Himalayan National Park — and is located in a difficult terrain and far from motorable roads. Due to the inaccessibility of the area, fire services could not immediately reach the site, though fire personnel managed to arrive at the nearby Tinder village to assist local residents. Villagers made desperate efforts to douse the flames using available water sources and sand, but the strong winds and dry conditions made it nearly impossible to contain the inferno.

Banjar SDM Pankaj Sharma said that relief operations have begun in the affected area. “Nothing could be saved from this tragic fire. Our teams from the revenue department are on site, assessing losses and providing immediate relief materials to the victims,” he stated. The Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kullu is also on the way to the village, accompanied by other senior officials to oversee the situation and ensure that affected families receive prompt assistance.

While no human casualties have been reported, one calf belonging to Kailash Chand perished in the fire. Preliminary estimates suggest the total loss amounts to around Rs 4.20 crore, including residential structures, cowsheds and temples dedicated to local deities Veemu Nag (Patyal) and Jogni Mata.

As night fell over the Tirthan Valley, the charred remains of homes stood as grim reminder of the tragedy. The district administration has assured the villagers of all possible support, including temporary shelters, food supplies and an immediate financial relief package.