Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: A fast-moving fire leveled 20 to 25 shops in Assam's Hailakandi district early Friday morning. The blaze ignited inside a shop at Joykrishnapur Market around 1 am on July 24. It jumped quickly between stalls. Most of the market was soon engulfed in flames.
Local mosque announcements drew a crowd of residents to the scene. These citizens fought the fire, but they could not stop the spread. Fire and Emergency Services personnel eventually arrived to extinguish the flames. Locals claim the brigade took nearly two hours to reach the market after the first alert.
Zila Parishad member Dilwar Hussain Barbhuiya toured the wreckage to survey the damage. He questioned the emergency response time during his visit. Barbhuiya stated, "I am concerned over the alleged delay in the emergency response and seek government assistance for the affected traders." He joined other officials in calling for state support for those who lost their livelihoods.
Property losses are estimated at several lakh rupees. Additional Superintendent of Police Shekhar Jyoti Ray led an inspection of the site alongside units from the Lala Police Station and Abdullapur Police Outpost. Authorities have not confirmed the exact cause of the inferno. Investigators are currently focused on two possibilities: an electrical short circuit or a gas cylinder explosion. Police have launched a formal inquiry to determine how the fire began.
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