Source: The Sangai Express / Addie Chiphang
Ukhrul, June 06 2009:
About three months after a devastating fire broke out at Wino Bazar in the heart of Ukhrul district headquarters reducing several houses and properties to cinder, the victims have poured out their feeling of discontent over the failure of the State Government to assuage their grievances.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, proprietor of Iwui book store, Hillson, who is one of the victims, said, "In spite of the hardship we are facing after the devastating fire, the State Government has not done anything except providing some relief materials till today.
The promise made by the Works Minister on the following day of the incident at TNL ground seems to have vanished".
On the assurances of Govt, Hillson asserted that the Works Minister during his spot visit had promised the public to take up the matter immediately after the Parliamentary elections since the Government could not do much in view of election code of conduct at that moment.
But till today, why is the authority concerned maintaining silence over the issue, Hillson questioned, and added that they (victims) are not asking for the moon but only seeking Government's help towards compensating what they have lost in the fire.
Another victim, T Raikhan, who also lost various collections of ancient antique besides other assets, said the grim picture of that fateful day will ever remain etched in his mind and expressed anguish over the muteness of the Minister with whom he had personally interacted in front of the inferno debris.
HKL president, Godfrey Zingkhai has appealed the State Government to provide sustainable schemes and other aids to the victims.
Terming such incident as a natural calamity, the president asserted that the State Government should without any delay do justice by compensating the loss of the victims in the fire.
The devastating fire that broke out on March 9 last at around noon had gutted 55 shops, 33 residential houses, 3 Government teachers quarters and several properties at Wino Bazar, Ukhrul.