50 houses, shops gutted at Noney bazar
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 09 2013: At least 50 houses and shops have been reduced to cinders in an inferno that broke out at Noney (Longmai) Bazar, Tamenglong district along NH-37 this morning.

According to information culled from the spot, the devastating fire broke out from a DVD/VCD parlour at about 1.30 am.

It is suspected that the fire broke out from electric short circuit.

The fire soon spread to the neighbouring structures.

Soon LPG cylinders and fuel kept in the neighbouring houses and shops multiplied the ferocity of the inferno.

Despite all the efforts of district police, 10 Assam Rifles, 86 CRPF, BRO, NF Railway and the local people, around 50 houses/shops were engulfed and reduced to cinders in the inferno.

When fire tenders from Imphal reached the spot, it was around 2.30 am.

Together with the people already gathered there, the fire tenders succeeded in containing the inferno.

Remains after of the of the shops and houses

Two water tenders and a mini truck equipped with water pump-set rushed from Imphal to Noney to fight the inferno.

As the inferno raged on, sounds of explosion of around 30 LPG cylinders were heard multiplying ferocity of the inferno every time the LPG cylinders exploded.

Tamenglong DC C Arthur, SP Themthing and Noney ADC Zino Kamei came to the spot.

Zeliangrong Union chairman Amu Kamei and Rongmei Women Organisation president Panti Golmei too arrived at Noney Bazar and held a meeting at Noney community hall together with Government officials.

Longmai Bazar Board chairman Chamrei Kamei said that Noney town is neither district headquarters nor sub-divisional headquarters but a small town situated by the side of NH 37 .

He said that the inferno decimated goods worth around Rs 10 crores.

On behalf of the victims, Chamrei sought all possible assistance from the DC .

ZU chairman Amu Kamei said that he witnessed a similar inferno at Noney Bazar when he was a child in 1957 .

Saying that this was the second time, Noney has been devastated by fire, Amu Kamei lamented that the Government seemed to be doing very little development works in hill district headquarters and towns while focusing all its attention in the capital city.

The inferno caused damages to such huge proportion because there was no fire sub-station at Noney.

He demanded that a fire stations should be opened at Noney apart from upgrading Noney police outpost to a full fledged police station.

Amu Kamei also demanded the SDC office should upgraded to SDO office in addition to upgrading the existing PHC otherwise there may be strong protest movement from the side of Noney people.

Tamenglong SP Themthing appealed to the people not to stock inflammable substances at their homes or shops in illegal manner.

The inferno's destructive power was multiplied by such substances stocked in private homes/shops.

DC C Arthur W assured all possible assistance to the victims.

Suggesting the people to pursue the demand of opening a fire station at Noney, Arthur said that he too would take up the matter with the Home Department.

He gave Rs 50,000 to the Longmai Bazar Board as immediate relief measure.

A private company named ECI which is working under NF Railway even used concrete mixer to control the fire.

They also dismantled a house using excavator in order to check the fire from spreading further.

The company has also donated Rs one lakh to the relief fund.

A press release issued by the Commandant of 86th CRPF said that two of their companies joined the fight against the inferno using fire extinguishers and water tankers.

Proprietor of the Gaidingam oil pump, Noney has also donated some edible items to the victims.

Meanwhile, Longmai Bazar Board, Longmai Bazar Youth Club, ZSU Longmai Area and Village Authority Council, Longmai Area have conveyed gratitude to all the people who volunteered and fought against the inferno.