A major rescue operation on Tuesday night ensured the safe evacuation of approximately 350 devotees, including women, children, and elderly persons, after a massive forest fire surrounded the Naina Devi Temple in the Patiyalkar (Dhalun) area of Nagrota Bagwan subdivision in Kangra district, Himachal Pradesh.
Devotees Trapped by Rapidly Spreading Flames
The devotees had gathered at the hilltop shrine to participate in a bhandara and jagran when a forest fire that had broken out in the surrounding forests during the day intensified by evening. As flames spread rapidly through the dry vegetation, the temple became encircled by fire from all sides, trapping hundreds of devotees inside the premises.
Situated amid dense forests, the temple is connected by a single road that passes through woodland. Officials reported that the blaze raged for nearly three kilometers on both sides of the approach road, cutting off the only escape route and creating a potentially dangerous situation for those present at the temple.
Coordinated Rescue Operation Launched
Following reports of the incident, the district administration, police, and fire services launched a coordinated rescue operation. Nagrota Bagwan SDM Munish Kumar Sharma stated that firefighting efforts commenced around 4 pm with the primary objective of securing a safe evacuation route for the stranded devotees.
“Our first priority was to create a safe corridor. Fire brigade teams concentrated on extinguishing the flames along the roadside so that vehicles could reach the temple and facilitate evacuation,” Sharma said.
According to him, it took nearly five hours to bring the fire along the road under sufficient control. By around 9 pm, emergency teams had managed to secure the route. The evacuation process began shortly thereafter, with children, women, and elderly persons being moved out first. All devotees were safely transported from the temple area and reached their homes by approximately 10:45 pm, he added.
Officials Praise Coordination
Kangra SP Ashok Ratan said emergency responders rushed to the spot immediately after receiving information about the fire. “All agencies worked in close coordination and succeeded in controlling the flames along the evacuation route, enabling the safe movement of devotees from the affected area,” he said.
Nagrota Bagwan MLA RS Bali noted that the situation became alarming as the fire intensified around the temple complex. He said he remained in constant touch with the Deputy Commissioner, SDM, and other officials while also establishing communication with devotees stranded inside the affected zone. He credited the prompt response and coordination among rescue agencies for ensuring the safe evacuation of everyone present.
Rising Forest Fires Amid Heatwave
The incident comes amid a sharp rise in forest fires across Himachal Pradesh as heatwave conditions continue to grip parts of the state. According to Forest Department data, 429 forest fire incidents have been reported across 11 forest circles till Tuesday, compared to 276 incidents during the corresponding period last year. Mandi circle recorded the highest number of incidents at 136, followed by Dharamsala with 113 cases.
