12 houses gutted in Churachandpur blaze
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 24 2010: The tiny hamlet of Tuima, a stopover point for travellers along the Guite Road became the latest victim of wild fire as fire swept the village late yesterday, charring more than a dozen houses and partially damaging two others.

Propelled by a strong gush of wind the wild fire swept the entire village at around 2.15 pm, about two hours ahead of the normal time when villagers return home from their Jhum fields.

"Only the vulnerable people, mostly women and children were in the village when the inferno struck our houses," Tualchin, the village headman said, adding people from the nearby jhums had to rush back to control the fire.

Remnants of charred houses in Tuima village of Churachandpur district.

The fire is said to be so swift that all houses located on the other bank of a rivulet that passes through the village were destroyed, and even pebbles were dashed around, sources said.

Though locals managed to contain the inferno within the village, about 80 kms from here, before dusk, they reportedly struggled till early today to put the blaze under control.

Monetary loss incurred is estimated at around 10 lakhs.

While Tuima is embroiled in the fire an outskirt house at the adjoining village of Lungthul (L) was also reportedly razed by another wildfire, taking the toll in yesterday's inferno to 15 .

A significant number of MDC aspirants, along with local tribe leaders rushed to the village with aid while locals and their neighbouring villagers struggled to erect temporary sheds for the victims.

An accompanying photographer of a team said children and women were still seen dousing the fire in isolated areas around the village.

Meanwhile, properties worth Rs 70,000 have been reportedly destroyed in a devastating fire that broke out in a private residential house at Irom Meijrao under Imphal West district at around 6.15 am today.

The fire was believed to have been ignited when the faulty regulator of the LPG cylinder kept in the kitchen of the ill-fated house belonging to one Yumnam Girimohan Singh.

The family members claimed that properties worth Rs 70,000 including gold ornaments have been consumed in the fire.

With the assistance of the local residents, the Fire Service personnel managed to control the fire from spreading to the neighbouring houses.