Litan Fire: Minor girl charred to death, 18 families rendered homeless
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray

Litan (Ukhrul), February 05 2014: In a tragic fire incident that broke out at Litan main bazaar in Ukhrul district, a minor girl was charred to death and 18 families were rendered homeless while properties worth crores were destroyed last night.

An 8-year old girl Julia Vashum, daughter of Sochipem Vashum, constable in Manipur Police Department, was charred to death in the inferno that broke out at about 11.10 pm.

This morning, police sent a handful of her mortal remains recovered from the bedroom where she spent the fateful night, to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) here for post mortem.

Litan Fire: Minor girl charred to death, 18 families rendered homeless

The devastating fire rendered 18 families, mostly shopkeepers and hoteliers, homeless and completely destroyed their homestead properties worth over several crores of rupees.

As a precautionary measure to prevent the raging fire from spreading, four houses located along the lane were also dismantled by the locals.

The damaged properties included cash amounting several lakhs, gold ornaments and live stocks.

Three fire tenders, two from Imphal and one from Ukhrul, rushed to Litan.

But because of the long distance, they arrived almost two hours late and could be pressed into service at about 12.30 am today.

The firefighters managed to douse the fire completely at about 7 am.

Locals said they tried every possible means to put the fire under control but failed due to the rapid winds and dry wooden structure of the houses.

The residents could managed to save only few properties from the raging fire.

An official source said the loss has been estimated to the tune of Rs.10 crores.

However, the exact amount would be established only after the final assessment.

Litan police station officer in-charge N.Manikantan said the inferno spread so fast as it was fueled further by the seasonal wind and explosion of gas cylinders.

A 15-member team of Ukhrul ADC led by its Chairman John Raleng and Vice Chairman Mathew Kamodang inspected the site of incident this afternoon and distributed relief materials comprising rice, dal, potatoes and blankets to the victims.

UADC chairman Raleng also condoled the tragic death of a minor girl and assured the affected families to extent assistance.

Earlier, Ukhrul DC Dr.S.K.Chourasia landed at Litan and assessed the damages.

Later, he revisited the site in the afternoon and assured the affected families with all possible help from the side of the Government.

Deputy speaker M.K.Preshow also visited Litan at around 2.30pm and inspected the site of incident.

He too assured that the state government will extend relief to the affected families.

Meanwhile, some of the families displaced by the devastating fire have taken shelter at the old Litan Veterinary Hospital and some at the residence of Tangkhul Baptist Church pastor in Litan.

Though the exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, it is suspected that it may have been either broke out from an electric short circuit or from an unattended kitchen fire where pig food was cooking.