Nine shops were burnt down to ashes in a major fire that broke out in Phungreitang West area of Manipur‘s Ukhrul district on the intervening night of Tuesday-Wednesday.
Sources informed the fire began around 2:45 am and spread in no time and one of the eyewitnesses raised an alarm and informed the others.
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The fire began from a room occupied by one snacks dealer identified as Pradeep Burman, originally a resident of from West Bengal.
Burman allegedly fled from the scene after the fire broke out.
Sources informed that property worth crores of rupees was destroyed in the fire.
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Several shop owners claimed to have made a heavy loss in the fire.
One of the owners Horthing Kapai claimed that eggs and other commodities worth around Rs 3 lakh were completely destroyed in the fire.
Another person Vaothing Muinao, who owns a tyre repairing workshop, claimed to have lost tyres and other equipment worth Rs 60 lakhs.
“The fire destroyed properties around Rs 80,000,” claimed one Basant Rumthao, who owns a mechanical workshop.
“My spare parts shop has been completely razed in fire and I lost properties worth around Rs 15 lakh,” said Arun Kumar who owns a spare parts shop.
“My friend Krishan Kumar Saha, who owns a mechanical workshop, lost properties worth around Rs 30 lakhs,” Kumar added.
“Another acquaintance Madan Prasad Gupta, who also owns a spare parts shop, lost properties of around Rs 30 lakh in the fire,” Kumar further said.
Several fire engines, fighting for several hours, finally could manage to douse the fire.
The exact reason for the fire is yet to be ascertained, however, sources say that it might have been caused due to a short circuit from Pradeep Burman’s shop.
This is the third major fire in Ukhrukl district this year so far.
Last year, 11 fire incidents were reported in the district.