Fire destroys houses, granaries in Naga-Myanmar village

Dimapur: In a delayed report, a devastating fire engulfed Longchan village under Namyun Township in Naga Self-Administered Zone (NSAZ), Myanmar resulting in the destruction of 37 houses and six granaries on April 11.

Additionally, eight houses had to be dismantled to prevent them from being consumed by the raging flames.

President of Eastern Naga Students’ Association (ENSA), (Myanmar) Atimiu Makury, told Eastern Mirror that Longchan village is home to approximately 87 families, out of which 45 families were rendered homeless by the fire.

Further, he stated that no relief materials have reached the village from either Nagaland or Myanmar. However, the Global Naga Forum (GNF) is currently coordinating the collection of relief materials and will be sent to the village once everything has been gathered.

He went on to state that the precise timing of the fire is unknown, “but it is believed to have occurred in the afternoon when the majority of the villagers were out in the fields”.

The cause of the fire is suspected to be from solar light, he said.

Makury also mentioned that Chop village in Arunachal Pradesh is the closest village to Longchan village from India, and due to the absence of a motorable road, it takes approximately one day on foot to reach the village.

Furthermore, he also stated that Longwa village in Mon district is the nearest village from Nagaland to reach Longchan village, and it takes around two days on foot or one day by vehicle to reach Longchan village.

Co-Convenor of GNF, Rosemary Dzuvichu told this newspaper that Longchan village had reached out to them for assistance and in response to their appeal, GNF took several days to prepare and collect the necessary relief materials.

Dzuvichu also informed that the GNF is planning to drop off the collected relief materials to Chop village located at the border area of Arunachal Pradesh within this week, adding that they would coordinate with the Longchan villagers to collect the relief materials from Chop village.

She said they have gathered “sufficient relief materials” but they were still seeking donations to purchase rice as all the granaries in Longchan village were destroyed by the fire. Anyone willing to help or donate rice can reach out to GNF or contact 8974848224, she said.