Imphal, January 03: I came to know about the devastating fire that gutted two big double-storeyed buildings at the heart of Lamka town on 31 December only when I received a call from the office of The Sangai Express around 10 am, telling me that �Churachandpur town seems to be on fire�.

With all local newspapers closed, there was communication breakdown among news reporters as all of us were in holiday mood to enjoy the end of an old year and ring in the new.

I immediately contacted my photographer friend, Thangpu Samte on his mobile to enquire about it.

He happened to be at Imphal but told me nevertheless that he had also heard that there is a big fire around the UBI building along Tedim Road.

Reporter Noren, in the meanwhile, called me again from the TSE office and asked if the reports are true.

I told him that there was indeed something on and that I was on my way to the scene.

When I reached the place after walking a good two kilometre from home, the area was choc-a-block with people-security personnel, volunteers and on-lookers.

The fire was still raging but the worst was over.

There were utter chaos and pandemonium.

There were volunteers climbing up the first floor, where the fire was most intense, on a ladder and battling the inferno without any care for their safety.

There were people, men and women, standing in queue and passing buckets of water on hand from the water tanker positioned on the road.

There were security personnel trying to ensure discipline and order and shooing away mere on-lookers.

Amidst the chaos, there were also some people in the vicinity who had the sense to contact the fire services at Moirang and Bishnupur.

There were also a few who took advantage of the confusion to try to grab the goodies.

The fire, which could have easily consumed the entire block extending from Centre Road in the north to Vengnuam junction in the south - the very heart of Churachandpur town, was put under control by 10:30 am and it was finally extinguished around 11:30 am.

Even as the tragedy was heart-rending, it was heartening to see blackened and tired amateur fire fighters and security personnel clapping their hands and congratulating each other after defeating the raging inferno.

Tragedies have a knack of unifying all.

Meitei, Paite, Mizo, Hmar, Bihari - everyone contributed their mite and in the process, the feeling of belongingness to one humanity is enhanced.

The security forces, comprising of personnel from the CRPF, BSF, Army units and local police came out tops in the hero�s roll call after this year-end tragedy.

The tragedy has greatly endeared them further to the masses as all of them strive hard as if it is their own house which is on fire.

Their hard work, sacrifice and humanity will be remembered and cited as example for a longtime to come.

There are also hundreds of unnamed men and women, who risked their life in battling the flames.

Many women folk came out of their homes with buckets but never get them back.

They are either broken or stolen or consumed in the fire.

Scores of volunteers are also injured in the process.

I tried to get the name of one who got hit on the head by an iron bucket, but he did not find it necessary that only his name should figure in the newspapers.

That�s the true meaning of philanthropism!! Where there are heroes, there also must be villains.

The Churachandpur fire department came under scathing criticism because they first arrived with an unfilled fire tender vehicle.

but the criticism is somewhat cushioned by the fact that they had exhausted all their water stores in fighting another fire that erupted the night before at RC Road.

Evidently, they did not know and did not believe, like us all, that there will be another fire so soon and thus, did not take the trouble to fill their tanker in the morning chill.

The real villains during the entire episode, who deserve to be caught and hanged from the nearing post, are the perverted souls who take advantage of the chaos to loot and steal.

That led to suspicion among volunteers and disputes ensue.

At least one robber was caught but many others get away.

Many goods are unnecessarily lost that way.

Our bicycle, left standing in front of a shop, was one of them.

One last word.

We should thank heavens that it did not occur at night time.

We should also remember that our role did not end after putting out the fire.

As many as 16 families live in the twin-buildings.

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