3 houses gutted in Kullu

Our Correspondent

KULLU, OCTOBER 19

Three houses were gutted at Kalga village of Barshaini panchayat in the Manikaran valley today.

Villagers tried to control the fire but it spread rapidly and engulfed three wooden houses and reduced these to ashes. Around 25 people of five families were rendered homeless.

According to sources, the fire broke out in a two-and-a-half-storey house of Kesar Singh at 1.45 am.

The flames also engulfed two adjoining houses of Pyare Singh and Tikkam Dasi. The incident caused panic in the area. The exact reason for the incident is yet to be ascertained.

Fire officer Durga Singh said the fire tenders could not reach the spot as the village was not accessible by road but the employees of the department reached the spot and assisted the villagers in extinguishing the fire.

He said there was a loss of more than Rs 50 lakh in the incident. DC Ashutosh Garg said a team had been sent for relief and rescue operation.