Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, APRIL 12
An unexplained fire that broke out Saturday morning at Rio colony in Signal Basti Dimapur destroyed more than 100 thatched houses and rendered at least 158 families homeless.
Almost all of the affected families are Bangladeshi immigrants, settled in the locality as daily wage earners, rickshaw pullers and shopkeepers. Clustered into one dense settlement, and sparsely spaced, the whole pocket was razed down despite 8 fire-trucks being used.
Dimapur Fire Brigade said that it received information of the fire at around 7.35 am Saturday. Residents of the locality said that the fire started at 7.20 am. The cause of the fire remains unknown.
The usual suspect, electrical short circuit, has been ruled out this time around as it has been confirmed that there was no current at the time of the incident.
Six fire trucks from Dimapur and another two from Chumukedima were pressed into action even as firefighters fought in vain to douse the flames. By the time they left, it was almost 11.30 am and the whole area reduced to ashes. The eight fire trucks had to make no less than 25 rounds to fetch water. Despite the damage and destruction caused to properties, there was no loss or injuries to human lives.
Currently the displaced residents have been sheltered inside a nearby school building and a relief camp set up by the Muslim Council, Dimapur.
