Imphal, March 18 2009:: Along with giving instruction to the Deputy Commissioner for submitting a detailed report on the houses and shops that were gutted in the recent devastating fire at Wino Bazar of Ukhrul so that the same could be reconstructed, the Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh today assured every possible assistance from the side of the Government in rehabilitating the victims.

In response to a call attention motion raised by MLAs Dr Khashim Ruivah and Morung Makunga in connection with the inferno during the Assembly session today, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh who is also leader of the House informed that in accordance with the preliminary report submitted by the district administration, the fire had broke out from a hotel selling tea and other eatables.

The fire spread out to other area following explosion of 5/6 gas cylinders and it appears that no one had set the fire intentionally, said the CM.

As the lone fire tender at Ukhrul Fire Brigade which rushed in on receiving the report of the fire failed to control the blazing inferno, the Director of the Fire Brigade from Imphal had been despatched along with two fire tenders to help in putting out the fire.

In the efforts, the Assam Rifles had also provided two water tankers, the Chief Minister informed the House, while expressing gratitude to the Assam Rifles for its timely assistance.

The Chief Minister further said that around 50 buildings including shops have been reduced to cinders in the unfortunate incident while 70 families and around 356 individuals have been affected and properties worth Rs 1 crore destroyed.

The Government had not only sent a team of Ministers, MLAs including the Relief Commissioner himself to assess the damage and distribute relief materials but had also conducted free medical camps for the fire victims.

As the relief measures to be taken up by the Government could not be announced in view of the Model Code of Conduct of the ensuring Lok Sabha election which is already enforced, the district administration has been instructed to conduct an inquiry and submit a detailed report in this regard, the Chief Minister said, while assuring that the Government would take up necessary measures for reconstruction of the damaged buildings permanently apart from extending required relief.

Furthermore, the Chief Minister assured atleast two fire tenders in all the fie bridge stations of the hill districts and setting up of large ponds near the stations to serve as water storage tanks.

Raising the call attention motion, Dr Khashim Ruivah had observed that recent fire at Wino Bazar was the second worst incident of fire in the last one decade.

So providing some rice, pulses and monetary assistance to the victims is not enough.

They should be rehabilitated properly and given the benefit of interest free loan.

The MLA also drew the attention of the leader of the House towards ensuring adequate man power and fire tenders in the fire brigade stations of the hill districts.

MLA Morung Makunga expressed apprehension that the fire may have been ignited by the couple who run the hotel intentionally and demanded to know whether a police case has ben registered in this connection or not.

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