Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, MAY 10
The roads in East Dimapur experienced heavy traffic chaos for almost four hours as eight fire tenders battled to douse two simultaneous fire incidents today.
The first blaze was reported at Burma Camp at around 1.20 pm. Before this was fully brought under control, another fire outbreak was reported at Walford Colony at 2.40 pm.
The credibility of the fire department was thoroughly put to test as they had to make several trips to fetch water from the nearby pond behind the flyover and use it to douse the flames.
2 more fire incidents in Dimapur.
Saturday’s fire incidents comes barely two days after a major midnight fire razed four automobile shops at Khermahal, destroying properties worth crores of rupees.
An official from the fire department told Eastern Mirror that today’s fire incident was the 45th in Dimapur this year alone.
It may be recalled that a raging inferno on April 12 last rendered 158 families homeless in Lomithi Colony.
Unlike the past where the credibility and response of the fire department is challenged primarily by traffic jams, the Fire Brigade today were not delayed.
As many as six fire tenders from Dimapur and two from Chumukedima were pressed into service to control the fire in the two places. The Chumukedima fire personnel were called immediately as soon as the second fire incident was reported.
At Burma Camp, the fire lasted for almost an hour and gutted a godown and three houses, including an RCC and two CGI sheet structures. A scooter was also reportedly burnt in the fire. Fire department officials said 19 families, were mostly from the Rongmei and Sangtam communities.
The cause of the fire could not be ascertained immediately. However, neighbours, who did not want to be identified, suspected that the fire was caused by carelessness by one of the tenants in his kitchen.
The fire incident at Walford Colony rendered 45 families homeless. The residents are said to be all non locals, mostly daily wage earners.
Sources from the fire department said a truck was also partially damaged in the fire. In both the incidents the residents and volunteers contributed greatly in assisting the fire personnel to put out the fire.
The exact cost of the loss of properties in both the incidents is yet to be ascertained.
