Seven Shops Destroyed in Late Night Shillong Blaze

Shillong: Fire gutted seven wooden shops at Last Stop in Shillong on Wednesday night. The flames broke out shortly after 9 pm, spreading rapidly through a cluster of businesses that included archery counters, a salon, and fruit stalls. Everyone escaped unharmed.

Iewduh Fire Station Officer Dinesh Rai dispatched two tenders to the site. The crews contained the fire within minutes of their arrival. "It was a small fire in terms of operational assessment," Rai said. He confirmed that investigators will complete a probe into the cause within 24 hours.

Rai did not address rumors of an electrical spark. A local resident reported seeing the flames and alerting both the fire service and MePDCL. The resident noted, "The fire brigade reached within about 10 minutes and managed to extinguish the fire quickly."

This is the second major fire in the city in just a few days. The recent blaze on Zig Zag Road in Rilbong has renewed calls for better fire safety. Closely built wooden structures remain a high risk for the city.