Nine members of two families from Takura, ward 2 of Siddha Kumakh Rural Municipality in Salyan, were killed in a fire caused by a cooking gas cylinder explosion in Arki, Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, India.
The incident occurred late Sunday night while the families were asleep. The deceased have been identified by relatives as 33-year-old Dhan Bahadur BK; his wife, 32-year-old Kavita BK; their daughters Radha and Renuka BK; son Rajan BK; 47-year-old Kashiram BK; 32-year-old Tika BK; 12-year-old Anu BK; and 7-year-old Kiran BK.
According to family member Prem BK, the victims were living in a room above a shop, and the intensity of the explosion severely damaged the bodies, making identification difficult. Four other relatives, including Rajendra and Gangaram BK, who were sleeping nearby, escaped unharmed.
Authorities in Solan district are in the process of recovering the bodies, a task complicated by the extent of the damage caused by the blast. Prem BK said the families had moved to Himachal Pradesh about two and a half years ago in search of work due to financial hardship.
Ward chairman Mekh Bahadur Budhathoki said the entire ward is in mourning and has decided to observe a day of mourning on Tuesday. He noted that weak economic conditions continue to compel residents to seek employment abroad, often exposing them to risks such as accidents, fires, floods, and landslides.
Discussions are ongoing on whether the victims will be cremated in India or their bodies repatriated to Nepal.
