Itanagar: A massive fire tore through Khonsa Market in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district late on Diwali night, gutting 21 shops and partially damaging several others.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the incident that occurred around 11.30 pm on Monday, reportedly triggered by firecrackers during the festivities.
According to officials, the flames quickly engulfed rows of shops and nearby houses, sparking panic among traders and residents.
Nine shops were completely destroyed, while 12 others suffered partial damage before the blaze was brought under control.
Tirap Deputy Commissioner Techu Aran and Additional Deputy Commissioner (Khonsa) Namneet Singh led an immediate response, coordinating with the Fire Brigade, Assam Rifles, CRPF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and local volunteers.
Their prompt action prevented the fire from spreading further into residential areas.
On Tuesday morning, Khonsa East MLA Wanglam Sawin, accompanied by district officials including DC Aran, ADC Singh, DDMO Emily Tingkhatra, and Fire Officer SI Emne Ngomdir, visited the affected site to assess the damage and meet the victims.
Expressing grief over the losses, MLA Sawin assured traders that the government would take up relief and compensation measures after a full assessment.
He also called for strict measures against illegal electricity tapping, announcing that new metering systems would soon be installed in all commercial and residential premises in Khonsa.
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DC Aran, meanwhile, expressed disappointment that several shops had failed to install fire extinguishers despite repeated government advisories.
He urged business owners to adopt basic fire safety precautions and instructed bazaar encroachers to clear roadside sheds to ensure unhindered movement for emergency vehicles.
Officials from the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) have begun assessing the total damage to facilitate relief distribution.
Fire Officer Ngomdir and DDMO Tingkhatra said that the swift response of firefighting teams was instrumental in containing what could have been a much larger disaster.
