New Delhi, June 11, 2026: A major tragedy was averted in the lower hills of Himachal Pradesh through a swift and highly coordinated rescue operation. Around 350 devotees, including women, young children, and elderly persons, were successfully evacuated on Tuesday night after a fierce forest fire rapidly advanced and surrounded the prominent Naina Devi Temple. The temple, located on a dense hilltop in the Patiyalkar (Dhalun) area under the Nagrota Bagwan subdivision of Kangra district, became an immediate danger zone as flames cut off all primary exit routes.
The panic began on Tuesday evening during a large-scale religious event. The temple premises were bustling with local worshippers who had gathered for a traditional bhandara (community feast) and jagran (overnight prayer vigil). The peaceful gathering quickly turned into an emergency when the dry, surrounding pine forest caught fire. Fanned by strong summer winds, the blaze spread with alarming speed, creeping up the hillside and completely engulfing the three-kilometer stretch of the single access road that connects the shrine to the main highway.
A Sudden Ring of Fire
The fire reportedly began around 3:00 PM on Tuesday but initially appeared to be under control. However, as temperatures stayed high, the dry pine needles covering the forest floor acted as a natural tinderbox. By 7:30 PM, the fire flared up again with newfound intensity, spreading across an estimated 10-kilometer swath of the forest.
As the flames moved toward the temple’s parking area, thick, suffocating smoke filled the air, cutting off visibility. With the main road blocked by roaring flames on both sides, the 350 worshippers found themselves completely trapped on the hilltop. Local authorities noted that if the fire had spread any further unchecked, it could have threatened nearby residential pockets, potentially putting up to 5,000 lives at risk.
Creating a Safe Corridor
When emergency calls started coming in, local administrative bodies, the fire brigade, the state police, and the forest department launched a joint rescue mission. Nagrota Bagwan Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Munish Kumar Sharma arrived quickly to coordinate the effort on the ground.
The primary challenge was the blocked road. Because the access route was trapped in a wall of fire, emergency vehicles could not reach the temple, and the devotees could not safely walk down. Firefighters focused all initial energy on creating a safe corridor along the road. Working under intense heat, teams battled the flames right along the pavement to tame the fire enough to allow vehicles through.
The firefighting teams fought the roadside blaze for over five hours. By 9:00 PM, the road was declared reasonably safe for a controlled evacuation.
The Evacuation Phase
The systematic rescue of the trapped devotees began at exactly 9:10 PM. Because of the lingering smoke and the potential for the wind to shift, the rescue teams prioritized vulnerable groups first, ensuring women, children, and elderly worshippers were loaded into waiting vehicles.
Local youth and village volunteers played a crucial role alongside official rescue services, guiding people through the smoke to the transport vehicles. The operation wrapped up by 10:45 PM, with every single trapped devotee accounted for and brought safely down to the base area. Remarkably, local authorities confirmed there were zero casualties or serious injuries during the multi-agency operation.
Official Response and Growing Concerns
Nagrota Bagwan MLA RS Bali monitored the crisis closely, keeping in constant communication with the Kangra district administration and the rescue teams. In a social media update following the rescue, he praised the quick reaction of the emergency services and thanked the community volunteers who risked their safety to help clear the path.
While a major tragedy was avoided at the Naina Devi Temple, the incident highlights a larger environmental crisis affecting the region. This year’s summer heatwave and extended dry spells have sparked a massive wave of forest fires across Himachal Pradesh. Forest officials report that over 441 individual forest fire incidents have already broken out during this dry season alone.
The Mandi forest circle has been hit hardest with 141 separate fires, followed closely by the Dharamshala forest circle—which encompasses Kangra—with 113 recorded incidents. Highly flammable chir pine forests cover large swathes of the lower Himalayan foothills, making the terrain incredibly vulnerable to fast-moving wildfires when temperatures spike.
An official investigation into the exact cause of the Nagrota Bagwan fire has been launched by the Forest Department and local police. Meanwhile, the district administration has issued a fresh advisory urging residents and tourists visiting hilltop shrines to remain vigilant, report early signs of smoke immediately, and strictly avoid lighting open fires near forest boundaries.