SHILLONG: A major fire broke out at Rilbong on Saturday afternoon, destroying several houses before firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control.
Personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services responded promptly after receiving the alert, successfully preventing the fire from spreading to adjoining homes.
According to initial reports, the fire began around 3:30 p.m. and, while it caused extensive property damage, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
South Shillong MLA Sanbor Shullai, who visited the affected area, said he rushed to the site immediately after learning of the incident while returning from a funeral.
Based on preliminary information from residents, Shullai said the fire is suspected to have resulted from an electrical short circuit. He noted that the locality consists of several old wooden houses, which contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
Shullai informed the concerned authorities and expressed relief that there was no loss of life. He also commended the timely response of the Fire and Emergency Services, which prevented the blaze from spreading further and saved many nearby houses.
During the incident, three LPG cooking cylinders reportedly exploded. The affected houses were home to around six to seven families, while the upper portion of the locality remained untouched.
The fire occurred along Zigzag Road in Rilbong, under the jurisdiction of the Kench’s Trace and Rilbong Dorbar Shnong. The exact cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage are yet to be officially determined.
(4FrontMedia news)
