Shops gutted, 4 of a family hurt at at Yairipok Azad Bazar
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 29 2012:
Four members of a family sustained injuries while at least 10 shops and a bus waiting shed were reduced to cinders by a raging inferno at Yairipok Azad Bazar at about 8.30 am today.
According to information culled from the spot, the ravaging fire originated from a leaking LPG cylinder kept inside a grocery shop of one Md Razaq of Yairipok Singha.
The fire spread to the adjoining shops and all the 10 shops were reduced to cinders in no time.
The ravaging fire also devastated a tea stall, one two-wheeler workshop and a repairing centre for electronic goods.
Though no exact estimate has been made, it is feared that goods worth several lakhs have been destroyed.
As they tried to salvage some of their assets, Razaq, his wife Ibemcha and their young son and daughter sustained injuries.
On learning about the inferno, personnel of fire substation and Yairipok Police rushed to the site.
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However, they were accused of being late and they were attacked by a mob causing injuries to a police officer.
To control the situation, police fired several rounds of tear gas shells.
The fire was put out by the neighbouring people using water tankers and water-pumps.
In the meantime, when the injured family members were rushed to Yairipok CHC, they were blocked by a team of Yairipok PS at Yairipok bridge.
One diesel auto-rickshaw which brought the injured victims were forced to turn back after smashing its wind-shield.
Later in the afternoon, MLA Shyamkumar visited the ravaged site.
He instructed the relevant officials to give due compensation for the properties and assets destroyed.
He also informed that all those encroachers who have built houses and shops by the side of the road connecting Ngariyan foothills to Yairipok bridge would be evicted soon.