Midnight blaze ravages Kasauli’s Heritage Market, 8 shops gutted

A devastating fire tore through the bustling Heritage Market in Kasauli cantonment in the early hours of Monday, reducing eight shops to ashes and leaving generations-old businesses in ruins. The blaze, which reportedly broke out around 3 am, engulfed four eateries, three gift shops and a pharmacy, causing extensive losses to shopkeepers and the cantonment board that had leased the properties.

According to residents, the fire is believed to have been triggered by a short circuit in electrical wiring outside one of the eateries. What began as a localised spark quickly escalated into a major inferno as multiple LPG cylinders stored inside the shops exploded in succession. The blasts not only intensified the flames but also posed significant risks to firefighters attempting to contain the situation.

Fire personnel reached the spot at approximately 4.55 am with a single 2700-litre fire tender. However, by then the fire had already spread rapidly across adjoining structures. Locals, alerted by fellow traders, rushed to the market and witnessed the flames engulfing shops that had stood for decades.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate Mahinder Chauhan arrived at the scene around 6 am and immediately requisitioned additional fire tenders from nearby areas, including Solan, Parwanoo and Banalgi. Three fire tenders from the Air Force Station also joined the firefighting efforts. Despite the reinforcements, the operation was hampered by repeated explosions caused by LPG cylinders, forcing fire personnel to proceed cautiously.

A fire officer noted that the presence of multiple cylinders, the exact number of which was unknown, made it extremely dangerous to enter the burning structures. The situation worsened as the tin roofs of eateries were blown apart by the blasts, while highly inflammable wooden items in gift shops accelerated the spread of the flames.

By around 9 am, the fire was brought under control through a coordinated effort, though it took nearly six more hours to completely extinguish the smouldering remains. Seven shops were completely gutted, while one suffered partial damage, losing nearly 40 per cent of its stock.

The affected shop owners include Gurdeep Anand, Avinash Sehgal and Gaurav Gupta, all of whom ran gift shops; Aman Chopra, Baldev Kishan, Ramesh Kumar and Bhupendra Singh, who operated eateries; and Vishal Agarwal, proprietor of a medical and general store.

Traders expressed anguish and frustration over what they described as systemic lapses. Gaurav Gupta, whose family-run gift shop had been operating since 1965, highlighted the acute water shortage that delayed firefighting operations. The lone fire tender reportedly ran out of water within minutes, and refilling it required locating personnel to operate hydrants, costing valuable time.

Residents and shopkeepers blamed the cantonment authorities for inadequate preparedness, pointing to the absence of regular fire drills and lack of basic safety mechanisms. They also flagged the absence of a night watchman as a serious lapse, especially in a high-value commercial area.

For families like Avinash’s, whose “Kasauli Souvenir” shop was completely destroyed, the loss is not just financial but existential, as it was their sole source of livelihood.

Officials have confirmed that a short circuit was the likely cause, while the storage of LPG cylinders significantly worsened the scale of the disaster. Solan DC Manmohan Sharma urged the public to contact the emergency helpline number 1077 for any disaster or emergency situation.