In an exemplary show of humanity and brotherhood, fire fighters from Manipur rushed into neighbouring Myanmar when a fire broke out at the marketplace near the Indo-Myanmar on Wednesday.
A major fire broke out from a cracker shop at Namphalon market on the Myanmar side at around 8:50 pm on Wednesday evening , about 20 metre away from Moreh town, the border town of Manipur.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Myanmar fire servicemen were first to reach the spot.
When fire fighters from the neighbouring country were trying to extinguish the fire, Manipur fire service personnel reached the spot and joined in the firefighting.
A team of Manipur Police, along with commando and AR personnel also arrived at the scene to offer help and maintain any law and order situation.
Ready for a challenge? Click here to take our quiz and show off your knowledge!
Police personnel from Manipur who had arrived at the scene prevented Indian citizens to enter the place.
Meanwhile, ADC, N Bankim and Commanding Officer of Assam Rifles, Col R S Rawat stayed back at the location to control the situation to avoid any further incidents.
As the inferno originated at a crackers’shop, it quickly engulfed the entire market place causing extensive damage.
Terrified residents on Indian side of the international border rushed out and sprinkled water on their houses and shops fearing the raging inferno might spread over to the Indian side.
However, no loss of life has been reported. Nor any one suffered any injury.
It took several hours to douse the flames. Over 30 shops and business establishments were gutted in the inferno, according to preliminary investigations.
The shops in this border market mostly stock expensive foreign goods brought from China, Japan and some other Southeast Asian countries and locals traders said the losses would be huge.
Notably, trading was shifted from Moreh to Namphalon following the legalisation of the border trade way back in 1995.
Authorities have said that the Nanphalon market might have to remain closed for few days.
Namphalon is a major market for the legalized border trade.
The Indo-Myanmar border was also sealed on Thursday after the incident.