20151111 India Fancy Bazar fire destroys property worth crores
India Nov 11 2015 “Houses” “Stores” “Warehouses”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 30 to 69 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fancy Bazar fire destroys property worth crores
Updated: 2015-11-13-09:53
The city’s busy Fancy Bazar area will never look the same again. One of the biggest incidents of fire that broke out here late on Wednesday night has reduced the whole ‘New Market’ to ashes.
The fire was so devastating that over 100 fire fighters and some 33 fire tender vehicles, including hydraulic water cannons, kept struggling for over 20 hours to douse the inferno. Till 5pm on Thursday, the fire could not be completely doused, though it was brought under control.
Besides all fire tender vehicles available in the city, additional fire tender vehicles were called from nearby Rangiya, Morigaon, Amingaon and other places.
Though no casualty was recorded, property worth crores was gutted. Fancy Bazar is the biggest business hub of the region.
At least 40 shops, mostly of garments, four residences, three godowns and a paint shops were completely gutted in the blaze.
Witnesses said about 14 LPG cylinders also blasted in the fire and added to the devastation. The fire is believed to have broken out in a cotton shop.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi visited the spot on Thursday. Gogoi said, “This market is one of the oldest in the state and has become very congested. The state government will provide all kind of support to the victims. A probe has been ordered. We will also investigate whether proper fire safety norms have been implemented in the business establishments. Those who have flouted norms will legal actions.”
Senior leaders from Congress, Asom Gana Parishad, BJP and All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) also visited the spot.
Kamrup (Metro) DC M Angamuthu entrusted additional DC Dipak Choudhury to find out how the fire broke out and if there were any lapses.
Guwahati police commissioner Mukesh Agarwal said, “It is too early to ascertain the cause of the fire. Some said it was sparked by Diwali fire crackers.”
The fire broke out around 9pm on Wednesday when the whole city was celebrating Diwali.
The Northeast Marwari Sanmelan demanded rehabilitation of the victim families and suggested that the state government provide loans to them. The sanmelan’s general secretary, Promod Tiwari, also urged the administration to take up measures to check selling and bursting of fire crackers in busy commercial areas.
The AGP leaders blamed government machineries for the delay in taking steps to control the blaze. Locals also alleged that the fire fighters’ team reached late.
Web Source: THE TIMES OF INDIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Fancy-Bazar-fire-destroys-property-worth-crores/articleshow/49764749.cms