Tragedy Strikes Nainital’s Historic Old London House

A devastating fire erupted in the iconic Old London House, a heritage building in Nainital, claiming the life of 82-year-old Shanta Bisht, sister of renowned historian and environmentalist Dr. Ajay Rawat. The blaze, which broke out around 10 PM on Wednesday, raged until 2 AM, leaving the community in shock and mourning.

The fire engulfed the 1863-built structure, a relic of Nainital’s history as the summer capital of the United Provinces during British rule. Over 40 personnel from the fire department, revenue team, and disaster response units battled the flames in a grueling rescue operation. Despite their efforts, Shanta Bisht succumbed to severe burn injuries, marking a tragic loss for the Rawat family, who also lost another sister, Karnlata Rawat, to burn injuries in 2020.

Shanta’s son, Nikhil Bisht, a noted art director known for his work on films like Barfi, narrowly escaped the inferno but collapsed unconscious outside the building. A local shopkeeper, Vinod Kumar Verma, noticed smoke billowing from the structure and promptly alerted the fire brigade. However, the fire truck’s water supply was quickly depleted, delaying efforts as it was sent for a refill.

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Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which has raised concerns about the safety of historic buildings. The community grieves as Nainital loses a cherished resident and faces questions about preserving its architectural heritage.

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