Police investigating cause of fire; administration probing construction, DC Cachar lauds efforts of Firemen

“We are very grateful that the fire has finally subsided down,” confirms the deputy commissioner of Cachar, Keerthi Jalli who is also the chief of District Disaster Management.

While speaking with Barak Bulletin, she adds, “It has only become possible due to the constant effort of all the people we have put into the task. We have got fire engines from Karimganj and Hailakandi too. The firemen were really on the job, the entire night. Especially, the Assam Fire and Emergency Services, the SDRF team. We are grateful that ONGC and Indian Air Force joined with their expertise. The public cooperated throughout and we are thankful for that.”

At around 7:00 pm on Saturday night, a fire broke at Vishal Footwear. The store was housed at an Assam Type constriction in Panpatty Silchar. Within moments, the fire started spreading. A nearby four-storey residential complex caught the flames. Soon it started spreading to the RCC (G+2) warehouse located behind the footwear shop. The firemen with the help of the local public and the officials from Goldighi Mall managed to bring the fire in the residential building under control. However, the store and the warehouse remained out of control for around 24 hours. The biggest obstacle for the firemen was the unavailability of a pathway to drive through with fire tenders.

“We need to look into why there was no pathway towards the entrance of the bigger godown. We are taking into account if precautions were taken, if preventive measures were at the place,” asserted the deputy commissioner.

Explaining the future plan of action, Keerthi Jalli said, “Now Police will investigate and find out the cause of the fire. As a town, we are looking into planning how next time these situations do not happen and for that we need to study the cause of the fire which is underway. However, it is also important that the public be aware that these kind of incidents may occur at any time and all necessary precautions are taken as preventive measures, this is my only request to the citizens.”

The DC mentioned that the general public pitched in with their efforts to bring the fire under control. When it was decided that the LPG cylinders in the area need to be evacuated, the Public responded to it with sincerity. Vishal Footwear has been demolished in order to make way for the Fire engines to drive through. The JCBs were arranged by the Silchar Municipality Board and the DC lauded the efforts of the executive officer of SMB and others who joined hands in the operation.