A devastating fire engulfed the newly built Jahru Nag Temple in Shaneri village of Rampur, Shimla, late Sunday night, just days before its scheduled pran pratishta ceremony.
The three-storey temple, constructed at a cost of over ₹2.5 crore, was a proud effort of the local community. While the Himachal Pradesh government had contributed around ₹60 lakh, the remaining funds came from devotees and villagers who had waited eagerly for the temple’s opening.
Preparations for the pran pratishta were nearly complete when tragedy struck. The flames spread rapidly through the wooden structure, reducing the sanctum and upper floors to ashes before firefighters could bring it under control.
Police and fire department teams reached the spot quickly, but by the time the fire was doused, the temple was completely destroyed.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation. Local residents have expressed deep sorrow, calling it not just a structural loss but an emotional wound for the community that built the temple with devotion and collective effort.
The Jahru Nag Temple was dedicated to the local deity Jahru Devta, revered across Rampur for generations. What was meant to be a day of consecration has now turned into a night of mourning for hundreds of devotees.
