Barpeta (Assam), 28 October (HS): A massive fire broke out at the Khola Bandha Mairadia weekly market in Assam’s Barpeta district late Monday night, destroying jute worth approximately ₹40 lakh and triggering panic among traders and local residents. No casualties have been reported in the incident.

According to reports, the fire erupted in a section of the market where traders had stored large quantities of jute for sale. The flames rapidly spread through the stored stock, reducing approximately 600 maunds of jute to ashes, traders said. The estimated market value of the destroyed jute is around ₹40 lakh.

The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. However, suspicions have been raised about possible involvement of miscreants, though this has not been established.

Hundreds of local residents joined efforts to bring the blaze under control. Their timely intervention prevented the fire from spreading to other parts of the market and saved more than 300 shops from potential destruction.

Police personnel reached the spot after receiving information about the incident and have initiated an investigation to ascertain the cause of the fire and examine the possibility of any deliberate act.-----------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash