Nine Nepali nationals have died in a fire caused by a gas cylinder explosion in Himachal Pradesh, India.
The incident occurred in Arki, Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. All the deceased were residents of Siddhakumar Rural Municipality–2 in Salyan district.
Bharat Giri, chairman of Siddhakumar Rural Municipality, confirmed the incident.
Ward chair Meghraj Budhathoki also issued an official statement confirming that nine members of two families had lost their lives in the incident.
The victims belonged to the families of local residents Dhan Bahadur BK and Kashiram BK.
From Dhan Bahadur BK’s family, 33-year-old Dhan Bahadur BK, his 32-year-old wife Kavita BK, their 16-year-old daughter Radha BK, 10-year-old daughter Renuka BK, and son Rajan BK died in the incident.
Similarly, from Kashiram BK’s family, his 32-year-old wife Tika BK, 12-year-old daughter Anu BK, and 7-year-old son Kiran BK also lost their lives.
The in-charge of Dharchaur Police Post, Assistant Sub-inspector Khagendra Bahadur Shahi, said that the police post had also received information confirming the deaths of nine individuals in the fire.
Following the deaths of nine members from two families in the ward, a day of mourning was observed across the ward on Tuesday.
According to ward secretary Krishna Chalaune, both families had been working in Himachal Pradesh. Kashiram’s brother, who also lives in Himachal, informed the village about the incident.
Indian media reported that the gas cylinder exploded around 2:30 a.m. on Monday, causing a fire in a house. The house also contained a small retail shop, and the fire spread to nearby houses as well.
According to WebIndia, more than 15 shops suffered damage due to the fire.
The reports stated that the nine Nepali nationals were trapped inside the house after the fire broke out, and it is believed they may have died due to suffocation.
Bhola Kumar, who has been working in Himachal Pradesh, told the Indian news agency ANI that four of the deceased were his relatives.
“After the fire broke out, we rescued all four and took them to hospital, but the doctors declared all of them dead,” he told the ANI.
