Lamka, March 21: A blazing inferno which broke out today at around 12:30 pm completely devastated 15 houses in Songtal, a village situated about 130 kms from here.

The origin of the fire is yet to be ascertained.

According to Paukhangthang Guite, the village chief who was present at the site, the fire occured at a time when adult villagers were on their Jhum fields and the village left to the custody of kids and aged persons.

Details of the destruction were still awaited as villagers battled the inferno till 4 pm today.

It is obvious though that more than 2530 tin of rice was destroyed in the fire and at least 5 of the houses were made of wood and tinroofed.

Songtal Village, inhabited today by 48 families was earlier caught in an inferno in 1985 with 49 houses burnt to ashes.

The individuals whose houses were ravaged in today's inferno are identified as Pumsuanlian, Betson, Thuamzachin, Suanminthang, Theingahvung, Dalkhanlian, H Chinkhanpau, N Tuanzathang, Nengkhansuan, Vungzapau, Thanggou, Thangkhanmuan, Paukhanlian, Thangzagin and Ginkhanmuan.

Meanwhile, a faulty cylinder today gutted half a building in Lamka reminding the local people of the New Year experience last year.

The fire broke out after the pin in a cooking gas allegedly broke down and knocked the regulator out of place-leaking enough gas to ignite an inferno.

Despite urgent measures to put out the fire, the fire raged on continuously claimed Chinkhanmang, occupant of the gutted house at Mualveng, Upper Lamka.

Timely response by neighboring dwellers and the Fire Department was instrumental in saving half the building.

Two kids were in the kitchen when the fire broke out but were saved by their vigilant father who suffered minor burn injuries on both the hands and hair.

Property worth Rs.1 lakh was destroyed in the fire.

It may be noted that leaked cylinders are a common trend here and their seals are just plastic wraps as against the ordinary steel cover.

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