Minphong Konyak
Mon | January 21
TEN SHOPS and more than 20 residential rooms at Daily Market, Mon town was gutted in a major fire that broke out this morning at around 1:30 am. The fire is reported to have started at the storeroom of a merchant which eventually spread and destroyed the entire area. A video hall situated in the vicinity was also destroyed in the fire. Altogether, properties worth more than Rs 20 lakhs were destroyed. Besides, families residing close by either lost or damaged their belongings while evacuating. No one was injured though despite the severity of the fire which was put off only at about 4 am. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Meanwhile there were complaints that despite being informed immediately after the fire broke out, the Fire Department took an hour to reach the spot. And to add to this delay, the tanker had no fuel for which money was asked from the public, it was alleged. It was also pointed out that the tanker came half empty, which after spraying for some minutes had to return for refilling. By the time the truck returned after refilling, the fire had already done the damage.
It was informed that there is only a single truck for the whole district and the fire station itself is located at a place far from the town. There is reportedly no reservoir in the station and the staff use the water for their domestic purpose leading to shortage of water during such emergency.
Meanwhile, the 20th Assam Rifles Mon under the command of Major Chauhan brought their tanker and prevented the neighbouring houses from the inferno.
Local NGOs and the public have questioned the irresponsibility and failure of the fire department and warned that “such inactive department which only draw their salary and do nothing should not be allowed to exist.”
Morung Express News
