Blaze destroys shop at Patharkandi; items worth Rs. 10 lakh burnt

A major fire broke out and took a shop into its clutches at Patharkandi in Karimganj district late on Sunday night.

According to sources, the incident took place around 2:30am last night. The blaze, which locals suspected broke out due to a short-circuit, engulfed a shoe store.

The total amount of loss was around Rs. 10 lakh. Fire-fighters reached the spot within a short period of time, but the fire had destroyed nearly all the shoes by then. A petrol pump — Roy & Roy Choudhury Fuel Pump, located near the spot, got saved from fire. The blaze was doused after sometime. Locals, who had gathered in huge numbers, helped in the process.

Mohammed Abdullah, owner of the shop, said he rushed to his store after receiving the information of the fire. Abdullah, who collapsed on the ground after watching his shop burn in flames, suspected that some people, perhaps out of jealousy, conspired against him and destroyed his shop. He, however, did not take anyone’s name. He opened the shop around seven months back, he said.

The matter is being investigated by the police.