Household insurance business is picking up in this Himachal Pradesh capital as families leaving the hill resort for warmer places in winters have started taking precaution against theft and fire.

In this town of 175,000 residents, four general insurance companies have sold 4,275 fire and 2,399 household insurance policies in this fiscal year, according to the latest figures.

With the rise in fire and theft incidents during the chilly months, insurance has picked up.

"There is now a growing awareness to go in for house insurance in Shimla and other towns," said R.C. Thakur of the Oriental Insurance Company Ltd, one of the four public sector general insurance firms in the state.

"For an annual premium of Rs.600, one can have a fire insurance cover of Rs.100,000 ($2,200). At least 10 goods are covered under the household goods insurance," explained another official.

In the past two decades, there have been numerous incidents of fire in Shimla, destroying some majestic buildings of the British era. Fireplaces in old wooden structures as well as short circuits have caused most of the fires.

Last year, a century-old house was gutted, but the owner had it insured.

Robbery also becomes rampant once Shimla receives snowfall.