Jan 13, Kathmandu - The news from Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, India, has shocked the country for Nepali families who have migrated abroad in the hope of securing their lives through foreign employment. The village is in mourning after nine members of two families from Salyan, who had gone to India for work, died at the same time.

Nine Nepalis, permanent residents of Siddhakumakh Rural Municipality, died when a gas cylinder kept in a sleeping room exploded and caused a fire in Solan district, India, at around 2 am on Sunday. They had been working as laborers in India for about two years.

According to Dr. Hem Bahadur KC, Deputy Superintendent of Police, District Police Office, Salyan, they did not have a chance to save their lives as the explosion was so severe. The situation at the scene of the fire was extremely painful.

The deceased have been identified as 33-year-old Dhan Bahadur BK of Siddhakumakh Rural Municipality-2, his 32-year-old wife Kabita BK, daughters Radha (16) and Renuka (10) and 22-month-old son Rajan BK. Similarly, Kashiram BK (46), his wife Tika BK (32), daughter Anu (11) and son Kiran (7) of the same village have also died.

According to the police, five bodies have been recovered so far, while the search for the rest is ongoing. Indian local administration and security personnel are conducting rescue and investigation at the scene.

Siddhakumakh Rural Municipality is in mourning after nine people from the same village died at the same time. According to Ward No. 2 Ward Chairperson Mek Bahadur Budhathoki, although their deaths occurred in a fire on the 27th, their identities were revealed late. As a sign of collective mourning, a mourning holiday has been declared at the ward office, community schools within the ward, and government offices today.

This incident has once again exposed the risks and insecurity faced by Nepali families forced to migrate abroad due to lack of employment. The question of how weak the safe residence and minimum security standards are for family members who have migrated abroad with dreams of improving their lives has been raised again.