Ukl inferno reduces 45 shops to cinders

UKHRUL, Mar 9 : At least 45 shops were razed to the ground while 73 other structures including residential buildings were damaged when a ravaging fire broke out at Wino bazar in Ukhrul district headquarters today at about 12.20 pm. Talking to reporters, who rushed to Ukhrul from Imphal on receiving the news of the devastating fire, local people there said that the fire may have started from a tea hotel.With the flames rising up to about 5 metres, the inferno spread from one shop to another to engulf the entire locality in no time. Fire Brigade personnel arrived at the scene at about 12.45 pm, but by then the fire had spread all over the place and there was nothing much that they could do.Local people expressed dissatisfaction against the Fire Brigade, contending that the fire tender was not filled to capacity with water.With the fire promoting a strong gale, the inferno spread from one shop to another in no time. Amid the din and noise, sound of LPG cylinders exploding could also be heard audibly.Ukhrul town literally was paralysed for about 4 hours during which the Fire Brigade men assisted by Assam Rifles, Manipur police and the local people fought the fire. Young boys and girls could be seen coming out with buckets of water to contribute their mite. Brigadier S Mander, the DIG B Range of the Assam Rifles personally oversaw the rescue work. In a statement, PRO of Assam Rifles said that 10 Sector provided 13-15 water browsers, fire fighting equipment, recovery vehicles and JCB to help in fighting the fire. Four AR columns were placed for opertion.The 10 Sector has also provided tentage as shelter for the displaced persons and opened a lungar to provide food to over 400 people. Generators have also been placed to provide electricity and a medical camp has also been planned, added the PRO. The Fire Brigade personnel pressed one fire tender into service and were assisted by the 17 Assam Rifles who rushed in with three water tankers, police and MR with one tanker each. The AR men fought the fire from the northern side while the Fire Brigade, police and the public did the same from the western side. more from sangai express.