Manipur: Massive fire destroys properties worth Rs 35 lakh in Imphal west

Imphal: Properties worth over Rs 35 lakh including Rs 5 lakh in cash were destroyed in a devastating fire that gutted a dwelling house located near the District Commissioner’s Office under the Lamphel police station in Imphal West district at around 10 am on Tuesday, fire service sources said.

The semi-pucca house belonging to a widow namely RK Sandhya Rani Devi, 50, a resident of Laisom Leirak, about 2 km from the heart of Imphal city was completely gutted in the tongue of fires, destroying all properties inside them.

The reason behind the fire is believed to be an electrical short circuit and the bursting of two filled gas cylinders has given more firepower destroying all the properties in the house to cinders.

An official of the Fire and Emergency Services said, “As soon as we got the information, several fire tenders rushed to the affected place but the congested road gave obstacles because of the incident near the busy Uripok road. However, with the great efforts of the firemen, the massive fire was doused from causing further devastation to the adjoining houses.”

Sandhya Rani Devi ruefully told the newsmen that Rs 5 lakh in cash left by her deceased husband was also engulfed in the fire.

Meanwhile, a voluntary organisation of the WhatsApp group —Like-Minded Group —extended Rs 10,000 in cash to the deprived widow.