Shimla, Jan 12 || A seven-year-old child was burned alive, and several, comprising two women and four children, were feared trapped in a massive fire that broke out early Monday in residential buildings located in the old bus stand area of Arki town in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district.
The situation turned worse after several LPG cylinders exploded, causing the fire to spread rapidly and making it difficult for firefighters to control the blaze.
Solan Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Singh told the media that police and fire brigade teams were on the spot for the rescue operation.
He said teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have also been deployed to speed up the relief and rescue operations.
Local legislator Sanjay Awasthi said eight to nine people are feared trapped in the fire.
He said the deceased child belonged to a family of migrant labourers.