By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 9: A late-night fire at Them Bijoy near the Ajmira building on Saturday destroyed four roadside shops, triggering panic in the area and causing loss of property.
The fire, which broke out around 10 pm, engulfed a fast-food stall, a salon, a dairy outlet and another shop dealing in miscellaneous goods.
Before the blaze intensified, persons present at the dairy shop managed to take out gas cylinders from the affected structures, a move that is believed to have prevented a possible explosion and further devastation.
Sources at the scene suspected that the blaze may have originated from the fast-food stall, with a short circuit being considered the likely cause.
Two fire tenders were rushed to the area after the Fire Service department received information about the incident. Firefighters managed to contain the flames before they could spread to nearby establishments.
While no injuries or fatalities were reported, the affected shop owners suffered extensive damage, with goods and infrastructure inside the four establishments being completely gutted.
