The families of a deadly fire which broke out on the fateful morning of 20 April, 2023 at Phalee village in Ukhrul district are yet to be compensated even after a lapse of one and half year since the tragic incident destroyed 10 rooms in addition to one shaktimaan truck and a gypsy.
With no financial assistance coming from the government’s end till date, the family members have been managing with their lone kitchen.
Sources said the raging fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. Altogether 14 rooms, one shaktimaan truck and gypsy along with important documents were burned down.
Including the window’s four rooms, properties worth Rs 60 lakh were destroyed. No human casualties were reported, sources added.
It may be mentioned that the Imphal Free Press (IFP) had reported about the incident. The house belonged to one Luckson Raingam and his three sibling brothers who live in their joint family home.
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Speaking exclusively to the Imphal Free Press on Wednesday, a visibly worried Luckson Raingam, 53, owner of the house expressed concerns that life without a roof over the head was hard to imagine and live. “10 rooms, one shaktimaan truck and maruti gypsy along with all the important documents were burnt to ashes. I was hoping that some assistance might be provided by the government. But so far my family has not received any assistance. I managed to construct a kitchen for the family to tide over during this tough time. But the foreboding reality is that I neither have means nor capacity to rebuild a new house for my family,” Luckson said.
“I only prayed that the government and its concerned department extend a helping hand on humanitarian ground so that the already burdened family could at least have a place to call home and start a new life again,” he added.
The raging fire also destroyed four other rooms which belonged to Tiny Khamrang, a widow who was also a local of Phalee village. Tiny’s properties worth Rs 20 lakh were also damaged in the fire.
The timely intervention of the locals prevented the fire from spreading further.
Phalee village is under the LM block in the west of Ukhrul district.
Incidents of electric poles breaking down due to rust or being uprooted by windstorms has been widely reported in the state whenever natural calamity hit the region. There are also reports of electrical short circuits and LPG (cylinder) explosion which not only create panic but cause huge damages to lives and properties.
In the absence of inadequate manpower and electrician to repair and fix the technical snag, it has become all the more important to educate and sensitise the general public on handling of electrical devices to prevent unwanted incidents for lack of technical know-how and safety measures.
Earlier, the moment rain accompanied by windstorms started hovering in the atmosphere, electrical currents were reportedly put off instantaneously. Lately as per reports culled from different villages the power system has somehow improved for the better. But a lot needs to be done with several electrical poles and wires in need of urgent replacement.
It may not be wrong to point out here for public digestion that victims of fire or any natural disasters deserve an empathetic treatment, be it small way so that mentally and emotionally traumatised sections can live a just and normal life like any other normal being.
