https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Officers Trying To Preserve Alexander’s Legacy Scarred In Malana Fire

A major fire gutted 16 houses in the famous Malana Village in Himachal Pradesh a month ago. Malana residents are known to be descendants of soldiers of Alexander The Great. A historical legacy and heritage is considered to be damaged in the incident.
Indian Masterminds Stories

A village fire is no big news. But the one that broke out in Malana, an ancient village in Himachal Pradesh, was an exception because of the village’s unique historical value.

The village is special because of its residents, considered to be the descendants of Greek soldiers who accompanied Alexander the Great, in his attempt to conquest India, after he had already routed most Persian and Arab nations.

Malana Village, Kullu Himachal Pradesh

The village is unique as most houses here are made of teak and deodar wood. And the fire damaged a historical heritage besides playing havoc with life and property.

WHY MALANA IS UNIQUE

It is also known as ‘The Stoner’s Paradise due to its famous Malana cream which is the world’s best quality hash. Apart from tourism, this is one of the main sources of the villagers’ income.

Residents of this village speak a unique language called Kanashi, have Mediterranean features, and practice one of the oldest democratic systems in the world. No outsider is allowed to touch any villager or their properties, otherwise he or she will be liable for a fine of Rs. 3500.

Although this village is a beautiful tourist spot, no tourist is allowed to stay in the village. They also have their own legal system such as village panchayat in place, and it is said that if someone wants the help of police, then he or she has to pay a fine.

THE FIRE

 The fire broke out in the village at 1.30 am and soon spread to a dozen houses made of wood. A disaster management official said, “Sixteen houses were gutted and around 150 people were rendered homeless in the incident “

Residents tried to douse the flames on their own since it was not possible for fire tenders to reach the village as there’s no road connectivity.

The Rescue Operation by ITBP Soldiers.

ITBP Babeli, fire team and home guard team were also rushed to the spot for rescue operations. But, by the time they could bring the raging fire under control, it had already inflicted irreparable damage to the unique Greek village in India.

Take of Chief Minister

Chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Jairam Thakur, visited the site in the month of November and became the first CM who reached this mysterious remote village.

The CM also announced Rs.1 crore to build a new road and also directed PWD to complete the work within 6 months.  Apart from this, he also announced Rs. 40000 for each of the victims under MNREGA and Rs. 25000for families whose houses were gutted completely and Rs. 10000 to those whose house was damaged partially.

CM Visit to the Village.

“A better road will be built to the village, which will not only boost tourism but also help develop the village. The villagers should preserve the rich cultural heritage and motivate the younger generation to feel proud of their culture,” the CM declared.

THE LESSONS

The Malana incident has imparted important lessons to people living in the hills. First being the need to construct water storage tanks at higher reaches, fed by perennial sources, to control fire disasters in congested villages having wooden houses.

Besides this, awareness should be spread among the villagers to change conventional means of stacking firewood and fodder. Low quality electrical fittings and appliances should be avoided to prevent further fire mishaps, say rural planning experts.

IFS Officer Aishwarya Raj and his team with villagers.

IFS officer Aishwarya Raj, who is also Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests, Parvati Valley, said, “Our team has visited the site in Malana Village and assessed the damage and requirements of people for rebuilding their houses through timber distribution of salvage trees for homes, so that some of the scars can heal.”

Personal scars of the villagers might heal with time, but the damage done to the village of historical importance might be permanent.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
Haryana Govt Moves for Forced Retirement of IAS Officer Rani Nagar After Prolonged Absence
moil india
MOIL Ltd Bags Prestigious IBM 5-Star Rating Award for Excellence in Responsible Mining
One Nation One Election
Former CJIs Endorse 'One Nation, One Election' but Flag Concerns Over EC's Powers
NLC-INDIA-resized-neyvili
NLC India Approves ₹1,631 Crore Capital Boost for Renewable Subsidiary, Secures $100 Million ECB from Japan’s SMBC
NMDC Steel Ltd
Priyadarshini Gaddam Gets 6-Month Extension as Director (Finance) at NMDC Steel Ltd - Know More About Her
ips-officer Latest
ED Records Statement in New Money Laundering Case Against IPS Officer’s Husband
Sarbananda Sonowal
₹5,000 Crore Push for Northeast Waterways: Sonowal Unveils Major Connectivity, Tourism & Skill Development Plan
REC Limited
REC Limited Sets Up 2 New Subsidiaries to Power Maharashtra’s Transmission Grid - Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-07 at 3.15
The Martial Artist IRS Officer Who Conquered North East India on a Cycle
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
IRS Sanjay Bahadur: The Officer With a Pen That Bites | Video Interview
Inderjit Singh Air India
Is Air India Carrying The Burden of Split Before Privatisation?
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS SHWETA BHARTI Bihar
From Wipro to Civil Services: How Bihar's IAS Shweta Bharti Juggled a BPSC Job While Preparing for UPSC
IAS Shweta Bharti, from rural Bihar, balanced a full-time job and UPSC prep with discipline, cracked...
IPS Deepak Meghani
Deepak Meghani, IPS: A Journey of Focus, Failure, and Quiet Discipline
A passionate writer, he has authored several books in Gujarati, ranging from exam strategy guides to...
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Social Media
Kaziranga Baby Elephant
Chotu the Baby Elephant Reunited with Mother in Kaziranga: Retired IFS Officer’s Post Goes Viral
A baby elephant's emotional reunion with its mother in Kaziranga, shared by retired IFS officer Susanta...
PV Sindhu
PV Sindhu’s Visit to NADT Turns into a Wholesome Tribute to Legacy—and ‘Moolchandj
The Olympic champion shared nostalgic memories, met aspiring IRS officers, and sparked viral laughter...
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services (IAS)
Haryana Govt Moves for Forced Retirement of IAS Officer Rani Nagar After Prolonged Absence
moil india
MOIL Ltd Bags Prestigious IBM 5-Star Rating Award for Excellence in Responsible Mining
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-07 at 3.15
WhatsApp Image 2025-07-03 at 13.33
Inderjit Singh Air India
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT