Blaze destroys half of pretty Malana village in HP

Shimla: At least half of Malana, the oldest village in the Kullu valley of Himachal Pradesh, was burnt down in a fire Saturday though there was no loss of life, police said.

According to an estimate, around 50 houses made of pinewood logs and stones were reduced to ashes by the blaze.

Villagers were joined by a police party to control the fire that continued in the afternoon.

Malana, an isolated village amid mountains some 350 km from Shimla, is situated at around 9,000 feet above the sea level and has no motorable approach road.

Thanks to its scenic beauty, it has been very popular among tourists, especially from abroad. It is home to Jamlu, a deity of the Kullu valley.