A Midnight Scare in Shimla’s Quiet Hills
Shimla’s charm usually lies in its peaceful nights — the kind where the cold air settles softly over pine-covered slopes and the town drifts into silence. But near Machhi Wali Kothi in the Benmore area, that calm was shattered late one night when an old wooden building suddenly went up in flames.
Around 11:30 pm, locals spotted the fire racing through the abandoned structure. Because the building was made entirely of wood, the flames spread with alarming speed, lighting up the hillside and sending a wave of panic through the neighbourhood.
Residents quickly alerted the authorities, and soon a fire brigade team was navigating the steep, narrow roads of Shimla to reach the spot. Firefighters battled the blaze deep into the night, working against the rapid spread of the fire in the chilly mountain air.
Thankfully, the building had been vacant for years, so no lives were lost. But the structure itself couldn’t be saved — it was completely reduced to ashes.
As of now, the cause of the fire remains a mystery. Officials will be investigating what sparked the blaze, but for locals, it was a stark reminder of how fragile Shimla’s old wooden architecture can be.
