Fire at Kullu Dussehra festival; 13 tents of deities gutted

Dipender Manta

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Mandi, October 28

Thirteen shops and tents were gutted in a fire at the Kullu Dussehra festival in Himachal Pradesh on Friday night.

However, no loss of life was reported.

Two people were injured while dousing the fire and one of them was hospitalised, Kullu Deputy Commissioner Ashutosh Garg said.

As soon as the fire spread from one tent to another, the people sleeping in the tents woke up and ran away to save their lives. The administration and followers of deities swung into action to douse the fire. The fire was controlled but 13 tents of deities, including a few commercial stalls, turned into ashes with minutes.

The DC said the palanquins of the deities are safe as they were brought out from the tents by their followers soon after the fire started.

The incident took place at the Dussehra ground in front of the court complex. The week-long festival began on October 24.

The ‘raths’ were moved out of the tents when the fire broke out. Temporary arrangements have been made for those affected by the fire, the officials said.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Detailed assessment of losses is being done, the deputy commissioner said. With PTI inputs