Staff REPORTER
ITANAGAR, Jul 2: Local MLA Techi Kaso on Thursday visited the site of a devastating fire at Puroik Colony along with Capital DC Toko Babu to assess the damage and oversee relief measures.
Following an on-the-spot inspection, immediate relief assistance was extended to the affected families and tenants. Kaso directed the district administration to conduct a detailed assessment and verification of the losses to determine eligibility for compensation in accordance with government norms.
According to officials, the fire, which broke out in the early hours of Thursday, gutted eight houses, leaving several families homeless and destroying property worth lakhs of rupees. No casualties or injuries were reported.
The Fire and Emergency Services Department said it received information about the blaze at around 12:20 am. Three fire tenders and 11 firefighters were deployed, and after an operation lasting more than three hours, the fire was brought under control.
Fire officials suspect the blaze may have originated from an electric short circuit in a rented house, based on the tenant's statement. However, the exact cause is yet to be officially established.
The fire completely destroyed residential and rental properties belonging to three owners. The worst affected was the property of Mering Yakli, where two semi-pucca residential houses and five rental units were reduced to ashes. The residential and rental houses of Byali Sinki were also destroyed, while the residence and two local kitchens belonging to Meme Lamnio were completely gutted.
Officials said the fire consumed household belongings, important documents including educational certificates, grocery stocks, furniture, utensils, clothing, electronic appliances, LPG cylinders, traditional ornaments and other valuables.
Two nearby RCC buildings also sustained partial damage due to the intense heat, including cracked walls, shattered windows and damage to electronic equipment such as an air conditioner, computer and laptop.