Jarailtola Fire After Electrical Surge; Locals Blame Assam Mala, One Woman Critically Hurt

A serious incident occurred early Tuesday (July 8) morning around 5:45 AM in Jarailtola, Cachar district, when a container truck accidentally hit a low-lying electrical line. The impact caused the line to detach and fall on another nearby truck, leading to a massive electrical surge that resulted in several fires from Jarailtola to Nilchera.

According to eyewitnesses, the fallen electrical wire sparked a surge that threw the driver of the truck out of the vehicle due to electric shock. As per reports the truck caught on fire almost immediately. The surge spread rapidly, affecting several homes, shops, and even Bandhan Bank in Jarailtola. Despite efforts to control the fire, significant damage was done.

One woman, identified as Rumana Begam Mazarbhuiya, was electrocuted and referred to Silchar Medical College and Hospital. As per reports her condition is critical, and her chances of survival remain low.

Local residents blamed the lack of coordination between the Assam Mala Project and the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) for the tragedy. A resident shared,

“Due to the Assam Mala Project the roads got higher, but the electricity lines were not adjusted. Now they hang lower, making it dangerous for tall vehicles like trucks. We had warned the electric department, but they ignored us. The officials just pocket the money and do not do their work. When something happens, they point fingers at Assam Mala Project. Where are we supposed to go?”

The fire damaged household items such as fans, TVs, and refrigerators in several homes. Many families were seen distressed and calling for help early in the morning. Some shouted slogans against the Assam Mala Project, saying the poor planning had put public lives at risk.

The owner of the Bandhan Bank building, Dilip Das, has appealed to the District Commissioner of Cachar to look into the matter and compensate for the damages caused to his property. An employee of the bank stated that various documents were turned into ashes because of the fire.

Electricity has been cut off in the entire area as repair work is currently ongoing. APDCL officials are working on restoring the power supply and repairing damaged infrastructure.

In a significant development, APDCL, yesterday (July 7) filed an FIR against Sanjib Kumar Nath, the contractor of the Assam Mala Project. The FIR stated that Nath had been “Unauthorisedly carrying out earth cutting, land filling, road widening and heightening works without shifting of poles and lines, resulting in continuous damage of APDCL LT & HT infrastructure from April 2024 to date and thereby causing repeated power interruptions and endangering both human lives and livestock.”

Assistant Commissioner Junali Devi visited the site and met with the affected people. She listened to their concerns and took note of the situation. The incident has sparked anger and concern among residents who are now demanding accountability and urgent preventive measures to avoid similar disasters in the future.