Assam: Massive fire guts Sohum Emporia in Guwahati, no casualties reported

Guwahati: A major fire ripped through the Sohum Emporia shopping complex at Christian Basti in Assam's Guwahati early Wednesday, sparking panic in the neighbourhood and leaving parts of the building severely damaged.

The complex also houses a branch of the State Bank of India, which sustained damage in the incident.

The fire reportedly erupted around 2 a.m. and quickly engulfed multiple sections of the structure before emergency responders arrived.

Residents spotted thick clouds of smoke and flames rising high into the sky as firefighters worked continuously through the night to contain the blaze.

Fire officials said they mobilised nearly six fire tenders to fight the inferno, which took them close to five hours to bring under control.

By around 7 am, the flames had been largely extinguished, though teams continued cooling operations to avoid any possible reignition.

Authorities described the blaze as “massive” and said an extraordinary effort was required to prevent it from spreading further. No injuries or casualties have been reported so far.

A detailed assessment of the damage, particularly to the SBI branch, is expected soon. Officials have also launched an inquiry to determine what caused the fire.