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Hotel Dhauladhar Fire in Dharamshala: Swift Response Prevents Tragedy

A fire broke out late Thursday night at the famous HPTDC-run Hotel Dhauladhar in Dharamshala. The blaze started in the kitchen and spread to the roof, which was made of Devdar wood. Thanks to a swift response, fire crews brought it under control and all tourists were safely evacuated. Officials confirmed there were no casualties, though property damage is still being assessed.

Key Points: Fire at HPTDC Hotel Dhauladhar in Dharamshala, No Casualties

  • Fire originated in the hotel kitchen and spread to the roof quickly
  • Four fire brigade vehicles responded and controlled the blaze
  • All tourists were safely evacuated by district and police teams
  • A team will investigate the cause and assess property damage
2 min read

Himachal: Fire breaks out at Hotel Dhauladhar in Dharamshala, no casualties

A fire broke out at the historic Hotel Dhauladhar in Dharamshala. All tourists were safely evacuated, and no casualties were reported.

"Fire broke out in the kitchen... The tourists who were staying there have also been shifted. There has been no loss of life. - Kangra DC Hemraj Bairwa"

Dharamshala, December 5

A fire broke out at the HPTDC's famous Hotel Dhauladhar in the Kangra district's tourist hotspot Dharamshala late Thursday night, a senior officer said. No casualties have been reported.

According to the senior district officer, four fire brigade vehicles were rushed to the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (HPTDC) hotel, and the blaze was brought under control in no time. As a precautionary measure, an SDRF team was also deployed at the site.

District administration and police personnel responded swiftly, evacuating the hotel premises and safely relocating all tourists staying there, Kangra Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa said, adding that the fire first broke out in the hotel kitchen and later spread to other sections of the premises.

"Fire broke out in the kitchen of Hotel Dhauladhar, built in 1978. The fire spread to the roof in no time, as it was made of the Devdar tree. Immediate action was taken. Fire brigade vehicles arrived at the scene within 5 minutes. The fire has been brought under control. The tourists who were staying there have also been shifted. There has been no loss of life. The property damage will be assessed...," Bairwa told ANI.

He further said that a team will be constituted to ascertain the cause of the fire, and an assessment of the property damage will also be carried out.

Further details awaited.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
This is very concerning. The article says the roof was made of Devdar wood, which is highly flammable. For a government-run hotel built in 1978, shouldn't there have been better fire safety upgrades by now? Thankfully everyone is safe, but this is a wake-up call for all heritage properties in hill stations.
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David E
I stayed at Hotel Dhauladhar last summer. The location is breathtaking, right in the heart of McLeod Ganj. The staff was lovely. It's heartbreaking to hear about the fire. My thoughts are with the employees and the local community that depends on tourism. Speedy recovery!
A
Aman W
Good to see the administration acted promptly. Evacuating everyone safely is the top priority. Himachal has seen too many tragedies lately. This efficient handling is a silver lining. Hope the investigation finds the root cause so it can be prevented elsewhere.
S
Shreya B
Kitchen fires are so common in hotels, especially during peak tourist season. Proper training for staff and regular checks of electrical and gas lines are a must. Thankful no lives were lost. Jai Himachal! ❤️
V
Vikram M
HPTDC needs to conduct immediate fire safety audits for all its properties across the state. We cannot compromise on tourist safety. The response time was good, but prevention is better than cure. Let's hope they rebuild with modern safety standards while keeping the old charm.

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