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Los Angeles wildfires: Influencer chef who cooked for Isha Ambani evacutes as ‘apocalyptic’ fire spreads. See pics

India-origin chef Pratik Bhakta captured the scary sight in Los Angeles caused by the wildfires. He shared the photos on Instagram.

Updated on: Jan 9, 2025, 12:12:27 IST
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Wildfires have ripped across Los Angeles, causing death, evacuations, and power outages. Visuals of the blazes have taken over social media, and an Indian-origin chef has shared photos of scary scenes.

A picture shared by an Indian-origin chef captures a neighbourhood in LA engulfed in smoke from the California wildfires. (Pratik Bhakta)
A picture shared by an Indian-origin chef captures a neighbourhood in LA engulfed in smoke from the California wildfires. (Pratik Bhakta)

“We’re in the midst of a 3-day windstorm, which is making the entire thing worse and providing so much fuel for the multiple fires,” chef Pratik Bhakta told HT.com over Instagram.

On Thursday, he took to Instagram saying he has evacuated from his home.

“I've evacuated and I am safe for now,” he wrote.

“Smokes all around”

One of the pictures he shared shows a neighbourhood covered in smoke from the wildfires. A text insert on the visual reads, “Such a scary sight in LA today with the fires, winds, and constant sirens. Hoping for everyone’s safety. If you’re in the direct path, please have an emergency kit packed with your important documents and essentials.”

Pratik Bhakta's Instagram story on LA wildfires. (Pratik Bhakta)
Pratik Bhakta's Instagram story on LA wildfires. (Pratik Bhakta)

“This feels apocalyptic”

In another photo, he shared a map showing the areas the fires affected.

LA wildfires. (Pratik Bhakta)
LA wildfires. (Pratik Bhakta)

Check out the other photo he shared:

California wildfires. (Pratik Bhakta)
California wildfires. (Pratik Bhakta)

What we know about the wildfires so far:

The fast-moving fires in different parts of Los Angeles have not only destroyed homes and businesses but have reportedly caused the death of 5 people.

California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has declared a state of emergency, said that over 1,400 firefighting personnel have been deployed to get the situation under control. Off-duty firefighters were also called in to join the battle against the blazes.

The Palisades Fire started around 10:30 am on Tuesday, followed by the Eaton Fire, which started around 6:30 pm the same day. At around 10:30 pm, the Hurst Fire started.

Also Read: 3 friends hug each other before being swept away by floodwaters. Heartbreaking moment captured on camera

Who is Pratik Bhakta?

The influencer chef is well-known for his cooking skills. He founded the brand Hungry Empire. In a video, he gave a glimpse of Isha Ambani’s lavish kitchen at her Los Angeles home while cooking for her. His Instagram is filled with visuals that capture him making different delicious dishes from around the world.

  • Trisha Sengupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Trisha Sengupta

    Trisha Sengupta is a Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of digital newsroom experience. Specialising in high-engagement storytelling, she blends viral trends with traditional journalism to cover the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. Her reporting spans real estate and personal finance struggles in hubs like Bengaluru and Gurgaon, the NRI experience, and corporate shifts like tech layoffs. Trisha also frequently tracks global figures and writes human interest stories. Offline, Trisha is an avid reader, history enthusiast and solo traveler. She balances her journalism career with family life while actively integrating AI tools into her modern storytelling approach.Read More

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