DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 16 (MExN): A late inferno at East Block colony, Burma Camp destroyed a cluster of bamboo dwellings on November 15, charring to death three persons, while rendering more than 800 families homeless. The cause of the fire, which started at around 11:30 pm, is yet to be established.
According to relief workers at the site, two bodies were found completely charred beyond recognition, while one with serious burn injuries died in the hospital. There were no other reports of injury to people, however. The deceased were indentified as Upender Paswan (40 years), Mandalal (35 years) and Durajram (35 years).
Eyewitness accounts stated that it took firefighters more than three hours to control the flames. Making matters worse, the fire spread rapidly, aided in part by bursting LPG cylinders, among the closely built temporary bamboo structures. Further, some of the fire engines pressed into service malfunctioned as the pumps feeding the water hose failed to start, the eyewitness accounts stated. A high-voltage power transmission line running overhead was also dislodged at one end and fell to the ground. Power was, however, cut off by that time.
The affected area, falling on the left of the highway leading to the New Dhansiri Bridge, is said to be designated as a ‘slum dwelling’ site by the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) of India. According to information provided by the relief committee formed in the aftermath, there is an estimated population of 2983 living within the designated area. The dwellers, mostly daily wage earners from the mainland, had built temporary homes as tenants on land said to be owned by a number of different individuals.
By morning volunteers of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha – a nationwide humanitarian organization - had already started providing relief to the affected. Other forms of aid also started pouring in from the Rotary Club, Dimapur Muslim Council, Lions Club and Burma Camp Bazaar Committee, while Helpers’ Club of Dimapur provided first aid and medicines. District Congress workers also lent out a helping hand by providing a hundred bags of rice and potatoes; and a sum of Rs. 200 to each of the 804 affected families. MLA from 1 Dimapur I AC, KL Chishi alongwith district congress workers handed over the items to the relief committee.
According to relief workers at the site, two bodies were found completely charred beyond recognition, while one with serious burn injuries died in the hospital. There were no other reports of injury to people, however. The deceased were indentified as Upender Paswan (40 years), Mandalal (35 years) and Durajram (35 years).
Eyewitness accounts stated that it took firefighters more than three hours to control the flames. Making matters worse, the fire spread rapidly, aided in part by bursting LPG cylinders, among the closely built temporary bamboo structures. Further, some of the fire engines pressed into service malfunctioned as the pumps feeding the water hose failed to start, the eyewitness accounts stated. A high-voltage power transmission line running overhead was also dislodged at one end and fell to the ground. Power was, however, cut off by that time.
The affected area, falling on the left of the highway leading to the New Dhansiri Bridge, is said to be designated as a ‘slum dwelling’ site by the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Limited (HUDCO) of India. According to information provided by the relief committee formed in the aftermath, there is an estimated population of 2983 living within the designated area. The dwellers, mostly daily wage earners from the mainland, had built temporary homes as tenants on land said to be owned by a number of different individuals.
By morning volunteers of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha – a nationwide humanitarian organization - had already started providing relief to the affected. Other forms of aid also started pouring in from the Rotary Club, Dimapur Muslim Council, Lions Club and Burma Camp Bazaar Committee, while Helpers’ Club of Dimapur provided first aid and medicines. District Congress workers also lent out a helping hand by providing a hundred bags of rice and potatoes; and a sum of Rs. 200 to each of the 804 affected families. MLA from 1 Dimapur I AC, KL Chishi alongwith district congress workers handed over the items to the relief committee.
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