NORTH LAKHIMPUR, May 27 - A major fire during the peak shopping hours today destroyed several roadside shops, including a multi-storied garment mall.
The fire began at 3 pm when smoke billowed from a shop selling plastic ware and other material on the NT Road here. By the time the fire tenders arrived, the inferno spread to the neighbouring shops selling clothes and subsequently engulfed a wide stretch of area.
As two fire tenders ran out of water, and the time required to refill the vehicle tanks further aggravated the situation as the fire had by this time spread to nearby shops. Within one hour, it engulfed Mahesh Textiles, a four-storied garments mall and destroyed everything inside.
In the meantime, fire tenders from neighbouring Dhakuwakhona, Ghilamora, Dhemaji, Gogamukh, NHPC-Gerukamukh, Lilabari Airport, Gohpur and Biswanath Chariali rushed to the site to help in extinguishing the fire.
Though the fire has been controlled while this report is being filed, but it has not been fully extinguished. Property worth several crores are estimated to be gutted in the fire. The inferno brought North Lakhimpur to a complete halt as the main NT Road was closed to traffic, thus causing unprecedented chaos in the town.
It may be recalled that major fires in densely populated commercial areas here have been occurring almost annually and the authorities have not learnt a lesson. The State Fire Service Station situated at Charaimoria suburb of the town is connected by the rural Gharmora Feeder of the ASEB. This rural power feeder service is known for its constant power cuts and load-shedding. As a result, the fire tenders face problems in filling their water tanks by using electric pumps.
Similarly, the central water supply facility of the PHE at the Tyagkshetra here does not have adjustable pipes and nozzles to fill the fire tenders. An enlarged fleet of fire tenders equipped with the latest fire safety measures is the need of the hour to face any emergencies like this, the conscious section of citizens here claimed.
NORTH LAKHIMPUR, May 27 - A major fire during the peak shopping hours today destroyed several roadside shops, including a multi-storied garment mall.
The fire began at 3 pm when smoke billowed from a shop selling plastic ware and other material on the NT Road here. By the time the fire tenders arrived, the inferno spread to the neighbouring shops selling clothes and subsequently engulfed a wide stretch of area.
As two fire tenders ran out of water, and the time required to refill the vehicle tanks further aggravated the situation as the fire had by this time spread to nearby shops. Within one hour, it engulfed Mahesh Textiles, a four-storied garments mall and destroyed everything inside.
In the meantime, fire tenders from neighbouring Dhakuwakhona, Ghilamora, Dhemaji, Gogamukh, NHPC-Gerukamukh, Lilabari Airport, Gohpur and Biswanath Chariali rushed to the site to help in extinguishing the fire.
Though the fire has been controlled while this report is being filed, but it has not been fully extinguished. Property worth several crores are estimated to be gutted in the fire. The inferno brought North Lakhimpur to a complete halt as the main NT Road was closed to traffic, thus causing unprecedented chaos in the town.
It may be recalled that major fires in densely populated commercial areas here have been occurring almost annually and the authorities have not learnt a lesson. The State Fire Service Station situated at Charaimoria suburb of the town is connected by the rural Gharmora Feeder of the ASEB. This rural power feeder service is known for its constant power cuts and load-shedding. As a result, the fire tenders face problems in filling their water tanks by using electric pumps.
Similarly, the central water supply facility of the PHE at the Tyagkshetra here does not have adjustable pipes and nozzles to fill the fire tenders. An enlarged fleet of fire tenders equipped with the latest fire safety measures is the need of the hour to face any emergencies like this, the conscious section of citizens here claimed.
