Around 25 shops reduced to ashes in massive blaze in Assam's Hailakandi market

A late-night fire gutted around 20 to 25 shops at Joykrishnapur Market under Lala Police Station in Assam's Hailakandi district, causing property losses estimated to be worth several lakh rupees.

According to officials and local residents, the blaze broke out in one of the shops at around 1 am on Friday, July 24 night before spreading rapidly to adjoining establishments, leaving most of the market engulfed in flames. 

Following announcements through the local mosque's public address system, residents rushed to the spot and attempted to contain the fire, but were unable to control the rapidly spreading blaze. Fire and Emergency Services personnel later reached the market and extinguished the fire, although residents alleged that the fire brigade arrived nearly two hours after being alerted. 

Personnel from Lala Police Station and Abdullapur Police Outpost also reached the scene, while Zila Parishad member Dilwar Hussain Barbhuiya visited the affected market, expressed concern over the alleged delay in the emergency response, and sought government assistance for the affected traders. 

Senior police officials, including Additional Superintendent of Police Shekhar Jyoti Ray, inspected the site as authorities began assessing the damage. The exact cause of the fire remains undetermined, though preliminary suspicion points to either an electrical short circuit or a gas cylinder explosion. Police have launched an investigation to ascertain the cause of the incident