Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio visited the site where a huge fire devastated Mao Market on Tuesday and took stock of the situation and measures taken by the Fire & Emergency services and district administration.
The massive fire that broke out on Monday night completely razed the famous Mao Market and NN Market Kohima while Sokhriezie Market, was also partially burnt, damaging properties worth crores of rupees.
According to DIPR report, Rio met the affected families, whose shops and residences were burnt down in the massive fire incident on Monday night.
Rs. 20 lakh relief: The chief minister also provided Rs. 20 lakhs from Chief Minister Relief Fund as financial assistance to the affected families. The chief minister was accompanied by DC Kohima Shanavas C, SP Kohima Imnalensa, Kohima Village T Khel council members, and other government officials.
State Govt constitutes assessment committee
Correspondent Adds: Following the massive inferno that totally razed Mao Market, NN Market here on Monday night, the State government has constituted an assessment committee to oversee the distribution of relief materials to fire victims and their rehabilitation.
The committee will be headed by additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Kohima & CEO District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) Kohima as convener, SDO (C) Sadar as member secretary and SDPO- South, OC – Fire & Emergency Services South, T Khel Council chairman, Kohima village, Mao Market Kohima Committee chairman and Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority nodal officer for Kohima district as members.
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses expressed anguish at the incident and questioned the competency of officials in-charge of the department responsible for handling such fire incidents.
The eyewitnesses alleged that fire tenders were improperly equipped while fire fighters themselves were not wearing proper and regulated fire fighting uniform while operating under fire, smoke and falling debris. Over 100 poorly equipped fire fighters struggled to douse the fire, which was one of the biggest in recent memory in Kohima.
Responding to call for help, fire fighters from neighbouring districts also rushed with their fire tenders.
More than 100 truckloads of water are believed to have been used in the firefighting exercise by around 20 fire tenders.
Meanwhile, Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) led by its president Kezhazer Angami has expressed shock at the fire incident and regretted loss of properties.
Interacting with media, Angami said KCCI had come to perform a survey on the total damage cause by the fire.
He also appealed to members of KCCI to contribute to the victims of fire, disclosing that the trade body’s executives would facilitate in organising and collecting relief materials. Tsütuonuomia Council also extended help to the fire victims. The council held a meeting with Mao Market committee chairman on Tuesday to chalk out how to carry out relief duties.
