19 shops, 3 houses gutted
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, December 11 2012: At least 19 shops and three houses have been burnt down to ashes in devastating fire which broke out in Lilong Bazaar in Thoubal district as well as in Thangal bazaar of Imphal West district today.

The fire in Lilong bazaar erupted at around 8:20 am today.

In the incident, at least 13 shops and three houses located along the entrance to Arapti road turned to ashes.

Explosion of a gas cylinder from a tea shop fueled the fire in its devastation and it led to a chain of explosion of as many as seven other gas cylinders from other shops and houses.

The shops which have been reduced to ciders in the fire included tea hotel, grocery shop, utensil shop, tailoring shop, mobile repairing centre, book stall, carpentry shop, garment shop, cycle spare parts centre, gas and stove centres and CD cassette parlour.

According to reports culled from the site of the incident, the fire broke out from a tea hotel run by one Shiv Narayan.

As soon as the fire broke out, a gas cylinder that was used in the shop exploded.

In the incident, Shiv Narayan and a hotel boy sustained minor burnt injuries.

They were immediately rushed to post of 28 AR and given first aid.

When the report of the fire reached, fire tenders from Imphal Fire Service and Thoubal Fire Service immediately rushed in and tried to extinguish the fire with the help of personnel of 40 AR posted in Canchipur.

All gutted shops belonged to Md Rehman (27) of Lilong keithel and Hasimuddin (50) of Lilong Arapti.

The fire also completely destroyed three houses belonging to Indat Ali (35), s/o Abdul Hasan; his brothers Azal Ali (30) and on Arim Ali.

In another incident of fire which broke out in Iboyaima Shopping Complex at Thangal Bazaar at around 5:30 pm today, at least six shops were partially burnt destroying some of the goods in these shops.

The fire was believed to have sparked from a faulty electric short circuit.

Timely arrival of fire tenders managed to douse the fire before it could do more harm.

Goods and properties worth around 1.5 crores is estimated to have been lost in the fire.

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