2 charred, 83 houses gutted in Arunachal's Tirap district

ITANAGAR: A fire in a Longliang village under Lazu circle in Arunachal Pradesh's Tirap district on Thursday killed two people, including a five-year-old girl, and destroyed more than 83 thatched houses, according to an official.

According to Tirap deputy commissioner Taro Mize, the incident occurred about 12.30 pm, and no fire tender was able to respond because the rural hamlet is located on a hillock.

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According to sources, who rushed to the scene to evaluate the loss of life and property, “out of 139 houses and a population of 702, according to the 2011 census, a total of 83 houses and two lives have been gutted in fire between 11 am and 12.30.” Despite the fact that the fire department and a squad of Tirap police officers raced to the scene, no asset or life was saved.

"An elderly individual who was bed-ridden and a young girl were charred to death; the deceased have not been named," said Lazu D K Thungdok, extra assistant commissioner (EAC).

Special relief teams, according to Mize, have been dispatched with vital commodities.

Meanwhile, Wanglin Lowangdong, a senior Congress MLA from the district, has urged the state government to make ex-gratia payments to the deceased's relatives and offer relief to the affected.

Arunachal chief minister Pema Khandu condoled the villagers' death.

“Deeply pained by tragic fire accident at Longliang village under Lazu circle in Tirap district that claimed two precious lives & more than 100 houses burnt to ashes. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives. All necessary relief being extended” Khandu tweeted.