Reported by: Manoj Kumar Ojha
Doomdooma: Around midnight on Saturday,a terrible fire partially destroyed Doomdooma Jatiya Vidyalaya in Bisajan in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district,destroying school property valued at an estimated Rs20 lakh. Despite this, authorities acted quickly to ensure that academic activities continue uninterrupted.
Essential infrastructure,including tables,benches,almirahs,ceiling fans,and other teaching supplies, was reduced to ashes by the fire,according to the school administration. Additionally, a number of classrooms utilised by students in Classes I to V as well as the teachers’ common area were totally destroyed by the fire.
“Preliminary assessment suggests losses of nearly Rs20 lakh,with vital classroom infrastructure severely affected,” a senior school authority said on Sunday, adding that immediate steps have been taken to restore normalcy.
Reassuring students and guardians,the authority stated, “We have already arranged alternative facilities so that classes can resume without interruption.The academic schedule will not be compromised.”
While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, strong suspicions have emerged among local residents regarding the possible involvement of anti-social elements.
Locals alleged that a nearby railway track, running parallel to the school, often turns into a late-night gathering spot.
“Unregulated movement and lack of surveillance have made this stretch vulnerable. Groups frequently gather here at night for drinking and gambling, which raises serious concerns about safety,” a resident said, urging immediate police intervention.
Echoing similar concerns, another local voice added,“Regular night patrolling is the need of the hour as preventive policing could avert such incidents in the future.”
Students, teachers, guardians, and social workers have visited the school grounds to show solidarity in response to the tragedy, which has sparked considerable concern in the community. The public has been asked to help reconstruct the destroyed infrastructure by the school administration and the students.
Meanwhile, teams from the fire department and police have launched a joint investigation into the incident.
Officials confirmed that no arrests have been made so far, and efforts are underway to determine the exact cause of the blaze.