Chirang (Assam), 28 September (HS): A major fire broke out at Dangtal market in Assam’s Chirang district late Sunday night, reducing 18 shops to ashes and triggering panic in the area.

Police said six fire tenders from Chirang and neighbouring Bongaigaon district were rushed to the spot after receiving information about the blaze. Firefighters, assisted by local residents, battled the flames for a considerable time before bringing the situation under control.

Most of the shops destroyed in the fire were garment stores. A cooking gas cylinder also exploded during the incident, intensifying the blaze and making firefighting operations more challenging.

Property worth crores of rupees is estimated to have been destroyed in the incident. The exact cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained, although police suspect that a short circuit may have triggered the blaze.

Police are collecting details of the affected shops and assessing the extent of the damage. No casualty has been reported so far.

A case has been registered and an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the total losses.------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash