Fuel cartel market singed, at least 30 houses reduced to cinders
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 02 2010: Amid allegations of illegal sale of petrol and diesel inside 2nd MR campus, a devastating fire that broke out while draining the content of an oil barrel has razed to the ground many quarters in the family line, resulting in loss properties worth crores of rupees.

The incident occurred at around 7 am today when the content of a petrol barrel kept in quarter no.52, type-I was being drained out without authorisation and without any safety measures.

The quarter is being occupied by one driver in 2nd MR identified as Salam Ajit.

Just a glimpse of the devastation wreaked by the blazing inferno in the family line 2nd MR campus

According to some people who stayed in the family line, around 20 barrels of petrol brought in a Tata mini 407 were unloaded at the quarters of Ajit last night.

Ajit was siphoning the content from the petrol barrel for sale in the black market when the fire broke out when the incense stick burnt by his daughter for the morning prayer ignited the highly combustible fuel.

The fire soon spread to the other remaining petrol barrels which exploded one after another increasing the intensity of the fire.

In no time, the leaping flames from the quarters of Ajit spread to the quarters of one havildar L Yaima who also kept petrol as well as to other neighbouring quarters where explosion of LPG cylinders kept inside only added to the spread of the inferno.

One Gypsy of 2nd MR stationed near the quarters of Ajit had been consumed in the fire and the fuel spilled out from the fuel tanker also help in spreading the fire to other neighbouring quarters.

The intensity of the fire was so strong that all the family members staying in these quarters have no time of thinking anything else but saving their own lives.

Many womenfolk and children were seen wailing.

Information received from Fire Service Department said that the outbreak of the fire was reported to the Department by one Y Ratan of Control Room, 2nd MR at around 7.30 am.

Immediately, seven fire tenders rushed in to control the fire along with the support of the police, 2nd MR personnel and public.

The two Varuns, the water cannon vehicles used against violent protestors in the State, have also been pressed into the service of extinguishing the fire.

The fire fighting operations continued till 2.30 pm.

Though the exact loss in the fire has not yet been worked out, 30 quarters constructed of bricks, quarters no.21 to 29 of Type-I, quarter no.5 to 13 of Type-II and quarter no.11 to 20 of another block of Type-I have been razed to ground apart from the destruction caused to other simple structures and buildings.

Over and above the Gypsy driven by Salam Ajit, one Santro car and one Pulser motorcycle have also been consumed in the fire.

Ajit sustained 70 percent burnt and has been admitted to Shija Hospital for treatment.

A large quantity of petrol and diesel found being kept in an unauthorised manner have been seized from the family line and GCO line during a drive launched by the police after the fire has been brought under complete control.

Arrangement for the accommodation of the displaced families have been reportedly made in the church and school buildings of 2nd MR.