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The Most Devastating Fires in India

India is known for its long coastline bounded by the Oceans, Islands, Himalayan Mountain and deeply forested hill regions. A place where both the traditional and modern worlds meet. However, Indian’s rich heritage has been threatened by wildfires that have become more frequent and devastating.

Today, fires are common in India, both due to harsh climatic changes and laws regarding safety in factories and residential buildings often being flouted. Below are the most devastating fires in India;

1. Dabwali Fire Accident

Dabwali fire accident – Tribune India

The Dabwali fire accident occurred on 23 December 1995 at the Rajiv Marriage Palace in Dabwali, where the local DAV Public School was holding its annual prize distribution function.

A synthetic tent, which had been set up inside the building, caught alight when an electric generator short-circuited. Many of the deaths were caused by the resultant stampede as 1,500 people tried to escape through the single exit door. More than 400 people, mostly children, died in the fire, and another 160 were injured, half of them with serious burns.

Officials held a mass cremation Dec. 25 for those charred beyond recognition, as the government ordered a probe and compensation for victims´ families.

2. Bandipur forest fires

Bandipur fires – Wikipedia

In February 2019, massive forest fires broke out in numerous places across the Bandipur National Park of the Karnataka state in India. The fire was started by two shepherds who wanted to chase away a tiger, fearing it might attack them and their cattle.

Due to the strong winds and rapid growth of dry grass and Lantana the fire was able to grow. It took five days from 21^st February to 25^th February for 300 local villagers and 500 forest staff, alongside the Indian Air Force’s help, to contain the fire.

Reports suggest that an estimated 10,920 acres of land were burnt and numerous small animals, reptiles, which are slow-moving, would have borne the brunt, while bigger mammals like leopards and tigers were displayed.

3. Uttarakhand Forest Fires, 2016

Uttarakhand forest fires 2016 – Wikipedia

The 2016 Uttarakhand Forest fires were a series of widespread that took place in Uttarakhand, India between April and May. The fires were caused by a heatwave that spread across Uttarakhand, severe lack of rainfall due to a dry winter.

The forest fires began on February 2, 2016, and went initially unreported for several weeks because the locals did not report the fires fearing bad publicity that will affect tourism within the area.

It is estimated a total of 1,600 fires broke out, resulting in at least 9 deaths and 17 non-fatal injuries. A total of, 4538 hectares (11,214 acres) of forest burnt down.

4. Uttarakhand Forest Fire, 2020

Uttarakhand Forest – Unsplash

The 2020 Uttarakhand Forest fires started in late May, after several forest fires broke out in Srinagar of Pauri Garhwal district in Uttarakhand, India. Forest officials described these fires as being caused by an unseasonable heatwave and period of dry weather.

Initial reports of forest fires in Uttarakhand in May were met with denials by the State Government. According to the state forest department, there had been 989 fire incidents between October 1, 2020, and April 4, 2021, destroying around 1,297.43 hectares of rich, biodiverse forests.

5. Puttingal temple fire

Collapsed building during Paravur Puttingal Temple mishap – Wikipedia

On 10 April 2016 at approximately 03:30 AM IST, the Puttingal Temple in Paravur, Kollam, Kerala, India, experienced an explosion. About 15,000 pilgrims were visiting the temple to mark local Hindu celebrations during the last day of a seven-day festival of the goddess Bhadrakali.

The apparent cause of the explosion was a firework, known locally as Amittu, which fell into the stash after being lit during the firework celebrations. The fire killed 111 people and more than 350 were injured, including some with severe burns. The temple and at least 150 houses in the area of the temple were damaged by the blast.

6. Simlipal forest fires

Simlipal Tiger Reserve – Wikipedia

The 2021 Simplipal forest fires occurred in the Indian state of Odisha in March and April 2021. Officials reported more than, 3400 small-scale fires in the biosphere reserve, with 350 of these occurring inside the tiger reserve.

On 5 March 2021, Odisha state government officials stated that the fires had been brought under control. However, the Forest Survey of India recorded 233 active forest fires in the Reserve as of 5 March 2021.

The fires have affected the ecologically sensitive Simplipal Biosphere Reserve.

7. Uphaar film theatre fire

Uphar Cinema – Wikipedia

The Uphaar Cinema fire started on Friday, 13 June 1997 at Uphaar Cinema in Green Park, Delhi during the three o’clock screening of the movie Border, it is an adaptation of real-life events that happened during the Battle of Longewala in 1971.

The fire was brought under control by 7.25 a.m. fifty-nine people were trapped inside and died of asphyxiation, while 103 were seriously injured in the resulting stampede (suffocation). It is alleged that repairs conducted on the transformer in the earlier part of the day were unsatisfactory and resulted in loose connections that caused sparking.

The victims and the families of the deceased formed The Association of Victims of Uphaar Fire Tragedy (AVUT), which filed the landmark civil compensation case. It won ₹25 crore in compensation for the families of the victims. The case is now considered a breakthrough in civil compensation law in India.

8. Kumbakonam school fire

Kumbakonam school fire – Wikipedia

The 2004 Kumbakonam school fire incident occurred in the Krishna English Medium School’s primary section. It was the second-largest school fire in India in terms of casualties, the first being the Dabwali fire accident.

On 16 July 2004, a fire broke out, with the school’s thatched roof structure catching fire initially. The fire sparked from the midday meal kitchen. A total of 94 students were burnt to death in their classroom.

The accident raised several questions on the Tamil Nadu Educational Department on the safety rule implementation, training of school teachers in civil defense, and enforcement of rules imparting education.

9. The Stephen Court fire

Stephen Court – Wikipedia

The Stephen Court fire occurred in March 2010 in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The fire was started by a short circuit in the lifts at 2:15 p.m. IST, rapidly engulfing the fifth and sixth floors. 43 people died in the fire.

A delay in the start of rescue operations was experienced due to the inadequate planning and preparedness of the fire-service department. A probe by the government into this incident revealed that illegal construction of two floors and the lack of adequate fire-fighting equipment were major factors that contributed to the blaze getting out of control.

The building was over 150 years old and is listed as a Grade-II heritage building. In 2016, an unregistered association, the Stephen Court Welfare Association, took the initiative of restoring the heritage building.

10. 2006 Meerut Fire

Victoria Park, Meerut – Wikimapia

On 10 April 2006 at about 17:30 IST (12:00 UTC), a fire swept through a consumer electronics fair (Brand India Fair) in Victoria Park, Meerut. While one version said that the fire was caused by a short circuit, another account said that it began in a furniture shop where spirit polish was being used.

The fire took place on the last day & last hour of the five-day fair and trapped at least 3000 people within the venue, as there were only one entrance and one exit in each hall. It killed 65 people, injuring 150 others and destroyed three giant tents.