Dharamshala December 22 – One house was brought down to ashes by a fire that broke out around midnight yesterday in one of the oldest residential areas of Mcleod Ganj. The house was situated on the lower part of the Kidrong Nala on TIPA road.
The fire was spotted around 11.43 PM by the owner of the house , an old Tibetan nun who is better known as “Khyi Ani” (Dog Nun) for her immense love for dogs and who sleeps alongside a score of dogs in a tin-roofed house covered from the front with scrap plastics.
Eyewitnesses say that the fire could have spread in the peripheral houses but for the timely help from neighbors.
The cause of the fire is not yet known.
“I would have died today if these people had not helped me, my prayers are all I have to thank these people”, said a terrified Ani.
Around 40 people from nearby houses came out in the chilling winter night to help bring down the fire. While some offered water from their rooftop tanks, others brought buckets from their houses as the brigadeless and unequipped firemen tried to extinguish the fire.
The fire was brought under control at around 1.15 AM this morning.
Strangely enough, a fire exactly a year ago on 20 December 2004 set ablaze houses, restaurants and shops in Mcleod Ganj town.
