Manipur fire destroys houses, shops, injures one
Imphal: Two separate fires ripped through Manipur's southern districts early Saturday morning, destroying properties and injuring one person.
The first blaze erupted around 4:00 am in Churachandpur district headquarters, engulfing a shop in New Bazaar.
Fanned by strong winds, the flames quickly spread to three neighboring houses. Two shops, owned by Baikmoi and Jathanga, were completely gutted.
The homes of Thangsuwanmong, Nenjiyakim Haokip, and Raoneikhumi were also reduced to ashes.
One resident, Joishil Niyaingaikimi, sustained leg burns while attempting to extinguish the flames. Officials suspect an electrical short circuit may have sparked the fire.
Firefighters from the Manipur Fire Service and the Assam Rifles, along with water tankers and fire tenders, arrived swiftly at the scene.
Their swift response prevented the blaze from spreading further into the densely populated area, potentially saving lives and additional property.
A second major fire broke out later that day, at 1:20 pm, in the remote village of Keipam (Molnoi, Pallel) in Tengnoupal district. Due to limited resources and the village's location, residents urgently called upon nearby security forces for assistance.
According to a defense official, an Assam Rifles firefighting team promptly reached the scene with water tankers and equipment.
Their rapid intervention effectively contained the blaze and prevented it from reaching nearby houses.
The extent of the damages caused by both fires is still being assessed.