Arki Market Fire Death Toll Revised Upward to 10 in Solan District
The devastating fire that engulfed Arki market in Himachal Pradesh's Solan district has now claimed ten lives. Authorities revised the death toll on Tuesday, confirming the tragic loss.
Victims Include Nine Nepalese Nationals and Child from Bihar
Rahul Jain, the additional deputy commissioner of Solan, provided heartbreaking details about the victims. Nine Nepalese nationals and an eight-year-old child from Bihar perished in the blaze. The fire originated in an old wooden residential building before spreading rapidly to nearby shops and structures.
Multiple LPG cylinder explosions intensified the fire's destructive power. The explosions occurred because at least six cylinders were stored inside the building, according to preliminary investigations.
Rescue Operations Continue Amid Challenging Conditions
A thirty-member National Disaster Response Force team from Slapper in Mandi district joined the search operations on Tuesday. They brought specialized equipment and a sniffer dog squad to assist local teams.
"Only human remains are being found, as this was an extremely severe fire," explained Jain. "The intensity of the blaze has made recovery operations particularly difficult."
Rescue teams recovered two human remains on Monday and three more on Tuesday. Forensic experts have collected these remains for potential DNA matching with family members of the deceased.
Search Operations Face Multiple Obstacles
The search operation encountered significant challenges on Monday. Encroachments in the carriageway prevented rescue teams from moving JCB earth excavator machines smoothly to the site. This obstruction delayed some recovery efforts.
A joint search operation involving multiple agencies will resume on Wednesday morning. The coordinated effort includes:
- National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)
- State Disaster Response Force (SDRF)
- District administration officials
- Local police personnel
- Home guards
- Fire department teams
Legal Actions and Investigations Underway
The Solan deputy commissioner ordered a magisterial inquiry into the complete incident on Monday. This formal investigation will examine all aspects of the tragedy.
Police have registered a First Information Report under Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. This section deals with negligent conduct concerning fire or combustible matter.
Authorities are taking legal action against building owner Rajeev Gupta under the Essential Commodities Act. Investigators discovered that Gupta was using the ground and first floors for commercial purposes while renting the top two floors to migrant laborers from Nepal and Bihar.
Identification Process Through DNA Testing
Nishant Tomar, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Arki, explained the identification process. DNA samples have been collected from family members of the deceased persons. Positive identification of the recovered remains will only be possible after DNA test results become available.
The forensic team has carefully stored all recovered remains for this crucial matching process. This scientific approach will help provide closure to grieving families.
Only one injured child was recovered alive on Monday, but this victim later succumbed to injuries at the hospital. This single recovery highlights the fire's extreme severity and the challenges faced by rescue teams.
