Officials at the site of the fire at the MMC Shopping complex on February 4. (Morung Photo)
62 shops razed, 72 partially, no casualty
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | February 4
Over 130 business owners were rendered out of business by a fire on February 3 at the Mokokchung Municipal Council Shopping (MMC) complex in Mokokchung.
The still to be explained fire at the MMC complex, situated in the commercial heart of Mokokchung town, started around 9:00 PM on the first floor, razing 62 shops and leaving as many as 73 with varying degrees of damage.
The Fire & Emergency Services personnel were reinforced by the Assam Rifles, SDRF and police in the fire-fighting effort, which went on till 1:30 AM. Investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire was on, while damage assessment was also on. There was no report of any human casualty however.
On Sunday, February 4, the Deputy Commissioner, Mokokchung convened a meeting with the civil society organisations, Mokokchung Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Police and SDRF taking stock of the situation. The CSOs included the Ao Senden, Watsü Mungdang, Ao Kaketshir Mungdang (AKM) and All Ward Union Mokokchung Town (AWUMT). MLA and Advisor, Minority Affairs and Sericulture, Imkongmar, was also present at the meeting.
The Deputy Commissioner applauded everyone for providing a hand during the incident and thanked the citizens of Mokokchung for their "responsible willingness" to provide services. Ao Senden President, Chubawati, requested the Advisor to convey the message to the state government for applying the “yardstick of equality” and provide the necessary help to the affected victims.
MCCI President, Tsükti Longkumer, informed all the affected entrepreneurs to submit the details of their shops to be submitted to the DC's office for availing damage compensation from the government.
AKM President, Lanu Ao, suggested a crowd-funding initiative to help the victims, the job of which was delegated to the AKM by the district administration.
Advisor Imkongmar informed that he will be consulting with all the other MLAs from Mokokchung district and the state government to address the needs of the impacted entrepreneurs. In addition to the assurance, he personally donated Rs 3 lakh towards relief.
In the meeting, the SDRF officers underscored the need for fire-fighting equipments, Fire Proximity suit in particular, for fire and emergency services personnel.
The meeting was followed by a visit, led by the Advisor, to the site of the fire.
MMC 1st floor closed
ADC Mokokchung, Chumlamo Humtsoe, in an order, informed that the first floor of the MMC Shopping complex, Shop number 17-44, will remain closed for structural safety assessment of the building. It asked everyone to comply with the notice.
