At least 700 shops were gutted in a fire in Arunachal’s oldest bazaar

Arunachal’s oldest bazaar

Itanagar: Around 700 shops were gutted in a massive fire at Naharlagun Arunachal’s oldest bazaar on Tuesday morning, police said.

He said that there was no casualty in the fire which was first noticed around 4 am.
The oldest bazaar in the state is located about 14 km from Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, near the fire station and Neharlagoon police station.

Police said the fire is suspected to have started due to crackers or lamps lit for Diwali celebrations.

Firefighters rushed into action but as the shops were made of bamboo and wood and the market had plenty of stored dry goods, they claimed the fire spread quickly.

Panicked shopkeepers struggled to save whatever they could as the bursting LPG cylinder fueled the fire.

Three fire tenders, one of which was brought from Itanagar, struggled for hours to control the fire, police said.
He said that the damage caused by the fire is being properly assessed, but it is estimated to be in crores of rupees.

Superintendent of Police (Capital) Jimmy Chiaram said the exact cause of the fire will be known after the fire department’s investigation is completed.

The shopkeepers alleged that after the fire broke out, they reached the adjacent fire station but could not find any officials. Additionally, when the fire service personnel arrived, the fire engine did not have water.
Shopkeepers alleged that the officials had to walk long distances to refill the engines, and could only return with water around 5 am, with most of the market already ablaze.

The police also did not take action. All of them should be fired for failing to perform their duties,” said Kappa Nai, president of Neharlagan Bazar Welfare Committee.
After speaking to the shopkeepers, Arunachal Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACC&I) President Tara Naching demanded that all fire personnel on duty be suspended for negligence.

He said it was the government’s failure not to put in place the minimum infrastructure required to fight fires — such as water filling points, which should be immediately made available at various points in the capital complex.

He questioned that if this is the situation in the heart of the capital, what will be the situation in the districts.

Itanagar MLA Techi Kasu told reporters that the market will be reconstructed by the state government with the support of ACC&I.