NEW DELHI, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in the fire that broke out in India's northern hilly state of Himachal Pradesh early Monday morning was feared to have risen to 10, confirmed a local official over the phone.
The 3-storey residential building, mainly made of wood, had caught fire and later collapsed, trapping all 10 people belonging to two different families hailing from Nepal.
The victims were sleeping when the fire broke out. Five women and a child were among the victims.
The fire occurred in Arki area of Solan district, about 38 kilometers west of the state capital city Shimla. ■