More than 150 shops were reduced to ashes after a massive fire broke out in the prominent Battala market of Agartala in Tripura on late Sunday night.
Prompt and effective actions by the fire service personnel managed to bring the fire under control in the congested market. There is no report of injuries, so far.
Battala Market, the second busiest and largest market in the city after Maharajganj Bazar. faced significant damage due to the incident.
Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha visited the affected Bazar on Monday and took stock of the situation. He assured assistance to the affected shop owners so that they can restart their business at the earliest.
According to the Battala Market Association Secretary Subhas Das the fire is likely to be originated from an electrical short circuit. Claiming the at least 155 shops – mainly small vendors – were reduced to ashes, Das said, property worth Rs 2 crores have been gutted, claimed shopkeepers.
Subhas Das detailed the extent of the damage, stating that among the affected shops, 130 were vegetable vendors, five were poultry shops, five were wholesale outlets, and 15 were grocery stores.
Chief Minister Prof. Dr. Manik Saha and Agartala Municipal Corporation Mayor Dipak Majumder visited the site this morning to assess the situation and interact with affected traders.
Chief minister said that he had spoken with the Additional District Magistrate, and after a thorough assessment, they can determine the accurate amount of the losses.
Due to the timely arrival of the fire tenders, the fire was doused, preventing further spread. The Chief Minister expressed his gratitude to the fire service personnel.
He further said “our government officials are actively investigating the matter and exploring ways to assist those affected. I have also communicated with the Mayor to ensure immediate support for the victims, and our government is exploring all possible avenues to provide assistance”, he added.
A delegation of the CPIM State unit also visited the spot. Speaking to the media, CPIM leader Manik Dey demanded adequate compensation for the victims.
