GUWAHATI, Dec. 11: Fire and emergency services and NDRF teams resumed operations on Thursday and were able to bring under control the massive fire that engulfed a multi-storied commercial building in the ABC area on GS Road here since Tuesday midnight.
According to a report from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), disaster response teams were able to control the fire by about 5pm on Thursday.
“However, the situation will be observed for a few hours before closing the operation. NDRF has been released from the site. The actual cause of fire could not be identified till now,” the ASDMA stated in its report.
Notably, considerable damage has been caused by the inferno to the six-storied building, housing a high-end shopping mall (Sohum Emporia) and branches of State Bank of India (SBI) across multiple floors. The flames spread across the floors, causing heavy smoke and restricted visibility across multiple floors even as fire and emergency response teams were deployed immediately.
No casualties have been reported so far in the incident.
“Extremely dense smoke was observed on Wednesday making it difficult for the firefighters to enter and proceed upstairs from the second and third floors during day time. Fire on the second and third floors were controlled in the evening,” the ASDMA had stated in its report on Wednesday evening.
Fire personnel had on Wednesday attempted to control the spread of fire and prevent it from reaching the lower floors. Approximately 25 fire vehicles from multiple fire stations were deployed at the incident site.
“Owing to zero visibility and heavy smoke, the fire could not be controlled effectively in the initial stage. The building premises and surrounding area have been secured. Evacuation protocols were initiated for safety. Preliminary observation suggests significant damage to the affected floors. A detailed assessment will be done once the fire is fully controlled,” the report stated on Wednesday evening.
Late on Wednesday evening, the firefighting operation was underway on the fifth floor of the affected building.
