A massive fire raged through a residential home in Ukhrul district’s Ringui village on the evening of January 21. The inferno, suspected to be caused by a short circuit, quickly engulfed the four-room house, along with its kitchen and store room, leaving nothing but a pile of ashes and ruins in its wake.
The house belonged to Chinaohei Ngalung, a resident of Ration tang, who now stands devastated at the loss of his home and possessions. The estimated value of the properties lost in the devastating fire reportedly was around Rs. 50 lakhs.
According to sources, the incident occurred around 6 pm, when most of the villagers were attending the Sunday evening worship service at the church. The fire is said to have originated from the kitchen of Ngalung’s house at Ration tang and quickly spread to the residential rooms, engulfing the entire house.
The catastrophic fire left the family homeless and caused immense damage to their belongings.
However, there were no reported injuries or casualties as the household members were away at the time of the fire.
The sources disclosed that the cause of the fire was suspected to be a short circuit. Residents said that moments before the fire, they faced issues with the huge fluctuations in the electric current supply in the area, which could have led to short circuits.
Ngalung, a retired government teacher, had recently constructed the house in 2023. The construction was almost complete, and he was preparing to inaugurate the house soon. However, the unforeseen incident has not only left him and his family without a home, but they have also lost all their hard-earned belongings in a matter of minutes.
All the construction materials, household utensils, machinery, furniture, and fixtures, worth around Rs. 50 lakhs, were reduced to ashes, the sources added.
In light of this tragedy, an FIR has been registered at the Somdal Police Station, urging the local police to conduct a spot enquiry and determine the cause of the fire.
The villagers hope that justice will be served to the victims and the authorities will take necessary measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
Ringui village, having more than 500 houses, is a part of LM Block, which is home to more than 20 major villages and a significant population. However, it does not have its own fire sub-station, which is a major cause for concern.
Demand For Fire Sub-station
In the wake of the incident, Zingtun Tangkhul Katamnao Long (ZTKL), Western Tangkhul Students’ Union, has urged the state government to establish a fire sub-station in the region as a remedial measure.
The president of ZTKL, RM Varemung, in a statement, emphasized the need for prompt action to ensure the safety and security of the people and their properties in the region.
The students’ body reminded the authorities about the need to take necessary precautions and measures to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. It called for the authorities to prioritize the safety and well-being of the citizens by providing adequate facilities and resources, such as a fire sub-station, to prevent such incidents from turning into major disasters.
The organization has also called upon the state authorities to thoroughly investigate the incident, assess the damages, and provide prompt relief to the affected family. They have requested for just and befitting compensation for the victims to help them.
Call For Aid
The ZTKL has also urged the villagers and surrounding community to extend any possible aid and assistance to the victim’s family. The fire was successfully controlled and prevented from spreading to other houses, thanks to the swift intervention of the villagers and neighbors.
The statement continued, expressing their sympathy towards the victim, Ch. Ngalung, who is a retired teacher known for his unwavering dedication. The victim had put in all of his savings and pension money into building the house, only for it to be completely destroyed by the fire.
“We are touched by the fact that the victim Mr. Ch. Ngalung, a dedicated retired teacher, had invested all of his savings and pension funds to build the said home, but everything was destroyed by fire,” it said.
