Kohima fire incident: ‘Some helped while others were busy taking pictures’

When Mao Market Complex and NN Market in Kohima caught fire earlier this week, some people wholeheartedly helped in every possible way, be it passing buckets of water, sand and other materials, to douse the fire, said one of the victims of the tragic incident.

The two popular marketplaces, which had about 153 shops, were damaged in the massive fire that broke out on February 27, affecting dozens of people and families.

‘If not for the help of the strangers, even the Bethel Medical Centre could have been damaged by the fire,’ said Elizabeth, 43, who run a traditional attire store at the NN Market till it was destroyed by the fire.

In the meantime, she lamented that many bystanders were busy filming and taking photos with their mobile phones instead of helping douse the inferno.

‘We were crying out to those bystanders to help in whatever way they could but they wouldn’t listen. Everyone was taking videos and photos from their phones. It was a worrying scene,’ she lamented.

She felt that people should have the compassion to help first instead of filming or taking pictures of tragic incidents.

Recounting the incident, she said that she was not aware until someone alerted her about the fire outbreak near her shop. When they came out of the shop running, they could not go near it.

“We were so worried and were crying but couldn’t do anything. We couldn’t save any of our stuffs,” said the mother of three.

The business community struggled so much during the long COVID-induced lockdown and many had spent all their savings, she said, adding that it’s not long since they started making some savings.

She shared that she had taken a loan and bought items to make some sale during the Mothers’ Day but the fire had destroyed everything.

“The most painful thing was that the fire brigade is nearby but these shops were all burnt. The fire brigade is so near to us, even the fire tenders are parked just outside the market. Why didn’t they save it? If they are not able to save here, how can they save in other areas?” she asked.

Everything is gone this time but next time, they should be ready and extend help, she added.

She also requested the government of Nagaland to extend help in any way possible.

Proprietor of NN Market, Beizo, said that the eight-storey building (NN market), which was adjacent to Mao Market Complex, had 78 rooms, 61 stores (shops) and three tenants.

Ruokuoneizo, 40, whose house was reduced to ashes said that they didn’t expect the fire to spread to their house at first but it did and they were not able could not save anything.

He added that five families were living in the building.

Seyievinuo, 40, who had been running an apparel store at the NN Market on rent since 2011, shared that most of the shopkeepers in the building were living hand-to-mouth. She added that the income was not much after paying a monthly rent of INR 1500 for her store but it was enough to put food on the table.

‘Now, we have nothing. Everything has been burnt to ashes. We watched the market engulfed in flames and could not save anything,’ she said.

Related news: Damage assessment, clearance works underway at Mao Market