At least 35 houses, mostly thatched house including five shops were gutted in a massive fire which broke out at Khermahal junction here on Thursday afternoon leaving nearly 34 non-Naga families homeless.
According to fire department, properties worth around Rs. 90 lakh was destroyed in the fire. The fire which broke out around 12:30 p.m. was suspected to be due to short circuit.
It took around two hours for 11 fire tenders including two from Chumukedima and one from Assam, to completely douse off the fire. Assam Rifles personnel also assisted in containing the fire. Three LPG cylinders also exploded in the inferno. However, no casualty has been reported till the filing of the report.
Three timber store/shops were partially burnt while two shops– electronic store and two-wheeler spare parts shop were completely reduced to ashes. Exact cause of incident and properties destroyed by the fire would be ascertained only after proper assessment, fire department sources said.