Second Fire in two Months in India’s Historic Town
The October 21, 2025 fire at Nainital’s Old London House was the second serious incident within two months at this 162-year-old colonial structure, raising major concern over heritage protection and firefighting capabilities in the hill town.
Event timeline
The fire started around 2:30 a.m. on October 21, in the same section that had been barely spared during the August 27 blaze, which killed an 82-year-old woman. Flames were first noticed by residents near Mohanko Square in the Mallital area. Firefighters responded quickly but struggled to control the blaze for over an hour due to low water pressure in fire pumps—a repeat of the same deficiency that hampered firefighting during the August incident.
Damage and probable cause
A ground-floor furniture shop was completely destroyed, with losses valued at several lakh rupees. The upper wooden structure sustained additional scorching but avoided full collapse. Police and fire officials suspect an electrical short circuit as the preliminary cause, though investigations are ongoing to rule out intentional or negligent acts.
Local reaction and heritage significance
Residents have voiced strong concern about recurring fires in this landmark building, especially since the recent one coincided with Diwali celebrations, increasing the city’s overall fire load. Locals stressed firefighting weaknesses, particularly insufficient water supply and pump pressure, as major contributing factors. The Old London House, built in 1863, is one of Nainital’s earliest colonial-era commercial and administrative buildings from the period when the hill station served as the summer capital of the United Provinces under British India.
Ongoing actions
Police have opened an investigation to determine if any tampering, unsafe wiring, or external cause contributed. The repeated loss has revived debate among conservation advocates about the urgent need for mandatory fire audits and electrical retrofitting for historic structures in Nainital’s urban core
