Shimla, January 13, 2026: Rescue operations intensified on Tuesday in Solan district, Himachal Pradesh, as the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and specialized dog squads joined efforts to locate six Nepalese nationals feared trapped under the debris of a devastating fire that destroyed a four-storey building in Arki Bazaar on Sunday night. The fire has so far claimed the lives of three individuals, including an eight-year-old child, and left several others missing.

Fire Devastation in Arki Bazaar

The blaze swept through a mixed-use building that housed commercial shops on its ground and first floors, while the upper two floors were residential quarters primarily occupied by migrant families. Constructed from mud and wood, the building was completely gutted, and adjacent structures also sustained significant damage.

Eyewitnesses reported hearing six to seven loud explosions during the incident, suspected to be cylinder blasts, which likely intensified the fire and contributed to the destruction.

Three casualties have been confirmed: the child died en route to a hospital, while the remains of two others were recovered at the site, heavily charred and fragmented. Officials have noted that the recovery and identification process is ongoing and is being carried out with utmost care.

Missing Individuals and Rescue Efforts

Six Nepalese nationals remain missing. All missing and deceased persons are reported to be from Salyan in Nepal’s Karnali province, and five out of the nine affected individuals are minors.

Rescue operations have been challenging due to the massive quantity of debris, which has hampered access to some parts of the collapsed structure. Local teams from the district administration, police, State Disaster Response Force, Home Guard, and the fire department had been engaged in the search since the fire occurred. On Tuesday, the NDRF and dog squads were deployed to intensify efforts and locate any survivors or human remains.

DNA Testing Underway

Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Arki, Nishant Tomar, confirmed that DNA samples have been collected from family members of the missing individuals to aid in accurate identification. The remains recovered so far cannot be positively identified until the DNA results are processed, officials said.

Legal Action and Investigation

The Solan police have registered a case under Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, dealing with negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter. Authorities are probing the exact cause of the fire, with Solan Deputy Commissioner Manmohan Sharma ordering a formal inquiry.

Impact on the Local Community

The fire has sent shockwaves through Arki Bazaar, a busy marketplace in Solan. Families of the missing and deceased are anxiously awaiting updates, while local authorities have urged the public to cooperate with the ongoing rescue efforts. The incident has also raised concerns about safety standards in older and wooden structures, especially those accommodating both commercial and residential units.

The NDRF and dog squads are expected to continue operations until all missing persons are located and the site is declared fully cleared. The search remains complicated by structural instability and residual fire hazards, but authorities are committed to conducting a thorough and careful operation to ensure no victims are overlooked.

This tragic event underscores the vulnerability of migrant populations living in temporary or unsafe housing and highlights the need for stringent fire safety regulations in commercial-residential buildings across the region.

The district administration continues to monitor the situation, and further updates on the rescue operations and identification of the missing individuals are expected as DNA test results are processed.