DIBRUGARH, May 12 – The city was today caught in a state of panic as a contagious devastating fire at a commercial building just in the epicentre of the commercial hub of Hanuman Singhania Road here remained unstoppable for hours. The destructive inferno, the smoke from which could be seen for several miles, spread to the adjacent two business complexes and showed no sign of respite.
The fire kept ravaging shops despite effort by the local fire tenders, who were forced to rush back for refill again and again. Army was immediately called in for help and rescue, even as fire fighters rushed from Oil India Limited (OIL), Duliajan; Oil and Natural Gas Company (ONGC), Moran; Army Station, Dinjan; and Mohanbari Airport joined the firefighting.
Fire tenders from elsewhere managed to arrive at around 12:30 PM and the blaze was finally doused using both chemical foam and tanks of water at round 3:30 PM. The fire, which broke out at around 11 AM, was reportedly caused due to short circuit in a children’s apparel shop. With minor injuries to three persons, no human lives were lost.
However, commercial goods worth about Rs 5 crore like clothes and automobile spare parts were completely ravaged in fire besides ruining the well embellished structure.
The fire caused extensive damage to several big stores and to at least two commercial complexes. Today’s fire has also exposed the sheer inadequacy of the State Fire Service Organisation here, and it was basically the Defence, OIL and ONGC fire fighters who actually salvaged the day from further destruction here.
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