NONGSTOIN: Five shops were reduced to ashes in Siejlieh, Nongstoin in a fire on Friday midnight.
The shop belonged to Kildaris Marngar (bakery and general store), Airintina Lyngkhoi (general store) Weltina Wahlang (general store) and Arbes Nongsiej (tobacco shop).
All the shops, located close to each other, were built of wooden planks and within no time caught fire and were consequently reduced to ashes. Eyewitnesses and sources informed that the fire appeared to have ignited from outside one of the shops.
No one was hurt in the incident as nobody was inside any of the shops at the time of the incident. The fire was first reported by neighbours who saw the flames and informed the police.
Prompt action by the Fire Services helped in preventing the fire from spreading and causing further damage.
Goods worth around Rs 10 lakh was damaged in the fire, the actual cause of which is yet to be ascertained.
Shop owners have, however, alleged that the fire was not accidental but was perpetrated by some miscreants.
