Inferno claims lives of four minors
Source: The Sangai Express
Kangpokpi, November 27 2020:
Four minors including three girls and a boy died in a fire that occurred at K Moljol jungle in Kangpokpi district on November 25 evening.
The unfortunate incident happened at around 7.30 pm of November 25 when the thatched (jhum) hut where they were staying caught fire.
Three of the four children were siblings.
The children have been identified as Seiminlal Tuboi (10), Neichamkim Tuboi (7) and Hatchonghoi Tuboi (3), children of Lunkhohao Tuboi and Lamneilhing of K Phaijol village and the fourth victim, Lhingneihoi Kipgen (4), daughter of Lalkholun Kipgen and Rachel Chinhoichong of K Moljol village.
They were staying at the hut with their mother and grandmother.
The hut caught fire when the children were sleeping inside.
The mother had gone to fetch some medicine from her village and the grandmother had gone to a neighbouring hut to bring some goods at the time when the unfortunate incident occurred.
Seiminlal Tuboi, the eldest of the four attempted to save his sisters from the fire and suffered 90 per cent burn injury.
He was rushed to district hospital Kangpokpi and later referred to Raj Medicity, Imphal where he succumbed to the burn injuries the next evening.
According to K Moljol chief, Lalkholun Kipgen, the children were staying with their mother and grandmother at the jhum hut cultivating peas in their farm.
The deceased children were buried at their respective villages following all formalities as per the Kuki customs and tradition by K Moljol villagers in the presence of area chiefs, police officials from Kangpokpi district, fire officials, local MDC, family elders and other civil bodies' leaders.
As no case was registered with the police, post-mortems were also not conducted.
Many civil bodies of the district including Kuki Inpi, KSO Sadar Hills, TSA Sadar Hills, KSO Twibul Lhang, Kuki Inpi Twibul Lhang, KACA, Kangpokpi Town Committee, Kangpokpi Women Welfare Organization, Kangpokpi Youth Union, Keithelmanbi Youth Association have condoled the tragic death of the innocent children and expressed solidarity while praying for the bereaved families.
On receiving the news of the tragic incident, Chief Minister N Biren Singh also sent some officials to take stock of the situation while the local MLA Nemcha Kipgen expressed heartfelt condolence and shared the pain and grief of the bereaved families.
Meanwhile, father of the three children expressed profound gratitude to all including KSO Imphal, Kangchup local MDC S Damma Vaiphei, KATYO, KAWHR and others for their love and support.
Various civil bodies of the district have also appealed Chief Minister N Biren Singh and authorities concerned to help the families and compensate the losses on humanitarian ground.