By Our Reporter
Shillong: Taking a serious note of the fire incident which broke out in a girl’s hostel at Dhankheti in the city on Tuesday, Urban Affairs Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has asked for an inquiry to ascertain if the building had the occupancy for setting up of a hostel.
“I have told my officers to go for a spot inspection to ascertain if the building had the occupancy for setting up of the hostel,” Ampareen, who is also the MUDA Chairman, told reporters here on Thursday.
She said that she was not sure if there were any emergency escape routes in the building to help the hostel inmates to vacate the building during the fire incident and whether the building had all the necessary safety measures in place in the event of any fire incident.
“I am really concerned over what would have happened if the inmates were inside the building when the fire broke out,” Ampareen said.
She also informed that she had spoken to East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Jopthiaw Lyngdoh, on the matter.
It may be recalled that a girl’s hostel located on the top floor of a five-storied building opposite Bawri Mansion at Dhankheti here was gutted by fire allegedly caused by short-circuit on Tuesday, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The damages included possessions of the inmates, mostly students, who lost their college books and belongings.
The other floors of the building were unaffected and no casualties were reported.