Shillong: A massive fire ripped through a godown in Shillong’s Demseiñiong area at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 10. The facility, situated directly opposite the NEEPCO office, stored event rental equipment including chairs, tarpaulins, and plywood. Smoke choked the road toward Nongmensong, forcing a traffic standstill.
The godown belongs to Citimai Syiem, wife of the owner of Push Decorators. Fire and Emergency Services crews rushed to the site to battle the flames. Police also arrived quickly. East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem monitored the response as crews worked to protect surrounding homes.
Authorities moved fast to prevent a larger catastrophe. Workers pulled gas cylinders from nearby houses, and the electricity department killed power to the local grid. Magistrate T. Marweiñ, MCS, confirmed that the emergency response teams effectively secured the area. He stated, "There had been no reports of deaths or injuries at the godown or in neighbouring homes at the time."
R. Syiem, the son of the business owner, also confirmed there were no injuries. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and officials have not provided a damage estimate. Multiple fire engines remained on the scene throughout the afternoon to dampen the site.
Updated at 11th November 2026 at 9:47am
Initial estimates place the financial toll at Rs 2 crore. The blaze incinerated a stock of mattresses and carpets in addition to the previously identified chairs, tarpaulins, and plywood. The fire jumped from the warehouse to an adjoining rented apartment, though staff successfully alerted the tenants in time to evacuate safely.
More than 15 fire tenders from the Meghalaya Fire and Emergency Services, BSF, and Assam Rifles battled the inferno for over three hours. R. Syiem pointed to sparks from a nearby utility pole as the potential source of the fire, though police continue to investigate the possibility of an electrical short circuit.
Syiem noted that luck played a role in minimizing the total destruction: much of the company inventory had been staged outside the warehouse for the current festival season, leaving the facility emptier than usual.
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