Imphal, May 21: Eight shops and two houses located at Phoijing Awang Kaboklei Bazar under Nambol police station of Imphal West district have been gutted and properties worth about Rs 24 lakhs damaged in a devastating fire that broke out early morning today.

According to information culled from the police and Fire Services, the fire broke out at around 3.30 am.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, the report said, adding that there was no electricity at that relevant hour, thus ruling out possibility fire ignited by short circuit.

According to family members whose houses have been gutted, the fire broke out from a grocery shop.

They immediately informed Nambol police which in turn contacted the Fire Brigade service at Imphal.

The fire service personnel battled with the fire till 6-7 am.

All the shops gutted in the fire were built on land belonging to one Sapam Joy Singh.

It also destroyed houses belonging to Joy and his brother Shanti.

Among the gutted structure belonging to Joy and his family members include a grocery shops, one PCO booth, two godowns, one shop selling gas stoves and an embroidery training centre.

One pharmacy and a workshop for plastic and iron chairs run by one Laishram Ajit have also been destroyed in the fire.

His family members informed that properties worth Rs 24 lakhs including one brand new Activa Honda, Rs 3.5 lakhs in cash and around 20/30 Son of gold ornaments have been consumed in the in the raging inferno.

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