The site of the fire at Senua Noksa village in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh. – Photo: Correspondent
Correspondent
ITANAGAR, April 4: Altogether 40 dwelling houses were completely gutted and seven others partially damaged in a devastating fire that rendered nearly 50 families homeless at Senua Noksa village in Longding district of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday.
“The fire, which broke out at about 6 pm on April 3 at Senua Noksa village in Longding district, reduced 40 houses to ashes and partially damaged seven others,” stated an official release issued today.
Anganwadi centres, a church and granaries were also gutted in the fire. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. However, the villagers suspect that the fire might have originated from a hearth left unattended in one of the affected houses, sources said.
Meanwhile, Longding-Pumao MLA Tanpho Wangnaw and Deputy Commissioner Bani Lego along with the heads of departments and other officials visited the fire-hit village today to take stock of the situation. The DC handed over a sum of Rs 3,800 each to the affected families as immediate relief. The chief of Senua Noksa village, Khuwang Wangham received the amount on behalf of the fire victims. The district administration also provided 60 bags of rice to the affected families.
The DC assured all necessary help in reconstruction of the village. He requested the villagers to use CGI sheets instead of traditional roofing materials which are prone to catch fire.
He also informed that a committee headed by Longding Circle Officer Taya Yullu will supervise and coordinate the rehabilitation and rebuilding of the village.
Distributing CGI sheets to the affected families, MLA Wangnaw urged them to keep adequate distance between the houses when the reconstruction begins. Wangnaw also appreciated the police, fire brigade personnel, and others for their efforts in dousing the flames and saving some houses.
Showing solidarity with the fire victims, Rural Works Department Minister Honchun Ngamdam, who represents the Pongchau-Wakka constituency, sanctioned Rs 10 lakh from his MLA LAD fund for procurement of CGI sheets.
