It was about 4pm, walking back from a cup of tea at the bar. Noticed smoke coming from the top of the building. Ran over to see the flames and smoke billowing out the building.
The whole of the upstairs was on fire. Paul, our friend Ed and some of the locals were running in and out of the building pulling peoples packs and matresses out. We managed to salvage our rucksacks and a few other bits, until the upstairs wasan inferno and it was decided it was too dangerous to risk it. The whole village turned out to watch and some of the backpackers lost everything (those on 2nd floor), Manager Mark and Rashma lost everything too.
We and some others had our passports, cash, tickets in the reception safe.
The fire soon spread to the lower floor and the whole building burnt to the ground. Locals hosed down nearby hut roofs as the heat was so intense and things were exploding...It was a real shock and quite scary, but no one was hurt.
The staff immediately moved out of their dorms and allowed us to move in. Electric was out in other buildings, so we all had dinner while it was light then gathered in the bar, in candlelight for a couple of hours until cables were joined and we had light again.