Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 11, 2010:
Atleast five more structures have been reduced to cinders in two separate incidents of fire at near Leimakhong military bastion and Imphal East district.
In the Leimakhong inferno that broke out at about 11.10 am today two buildings leased out on rent have been destroyed while three out-houses were burnt beyond redemption at Haraorou village in Im-phal East district.
The se- cond incident occurred late last night.
Information culled from the incident spot suggest that electric short circuit was the cause of the fire at cantonment town, which is Senapati district.
Owner of one of the devastated house has been identified as Thangsimlal Lenthang while the other structure belong to Ram-sing Digari.
There is no report of human casualty or injury due to the inferno which began from Lenthang's house sub-sequently conflagrating the neighbouring structure of Ramsing with the bursting of about three LPG cylinders.
While atleast ten rooms, including rented quarters have been destroyed shop keepers at the ground floor of Ramsing's building managed to pull out a number of items.
It is also informed that several number of Army personnel along with two fire tenders rushed to the spot and assisted the locals in controlling the fire from spreading further.
Fire tenders from Imphal also reached Leimakhong to join in dousing the inferno which unofficial report spe-culate to have destroyed properties in terms of lakhs of rupees.
On behalf of the Leimakhong Bazar Authority and Leimakhong Area Chiefs' Association, former Minister SL Paokhosei expressed gratitude to the 57 Mountain Division GOC Maj Gen DS Hooda and his men for their assistance.
Opining that had the Army personnel not arrived in time entire structures/houses in Leimakhong Bazar would have been consumed by the blaze, Paokhosei also urged the State Govt to extend all possible assistance to the distraught victims.
On the otherhand, the fire that broke out at Haraorou village destroyed three adjacent out-houses and granaries that belo- nged to Thangjam Gosai and his two other siblings.
Meanwhile, a statement issued by Youth modern Club, Haraorou listed two wheelers, broiler chicks and paddy-grains as the other items that have been destroyed by the fire.