| Lhomthi fire kills one, razes five buildings |
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DIMAPUR, JAN 11: A major fire at Lhomthi Colony, Signal Basti, in Dimapur on Monday morning razed five concrete buildings of more than 20 rooms and rendered homeless around 30 families, most of them from the Bihari community, while also charring to death a 13-yr-old girl. The fire, which occurred at around 7:30 am, reportedly spread from a lit candle. The inferno also engulfed a staff building of the Pranabananda Women College which lies adjacent to the site of the incident bordered by just a footpath. The main classrooms of the college just a few feet away from the staff quarters which was reduced to cinders were, however, fortunately spared. Kanjan Kumari, a speech impaired young girl of around 13 years, was charred to death in the fire. According to accounts, she had probably run up to the first floor of her building in panic and hid inside a bathroom when the fire engulfed the building. Family members could not ascertain her whereabouts as they tried to escape from the fire in terror. The remains of her body, with both her hands and legs completely charred away, was recovered only after the fire was finally brought under control. There was also another outcry when a young girl of about the same age could not be located even as the fire raged. The worst was feared but fortunately the girl was found safe and sound much to the relief of their parents. Four cylinders also exploded during the fire. According to the residents of the colony, the fire reportedly started from a candle from the house of a pundit. Fire officials said it took four fire tenders, taking two trips each, to contain the fire. They reportedly received information about the fire at around 7:45 am and reached the spot of the incident a little after 8 am. According to accounts of affected families and building owners furnished to the fire department, the loss incurred in the fire is estimated to be over Rs 50 lakhs. District administration, DMC Councillors and Red Cross later met the victims and distributed relief materials. 
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