HT Correspondent
BOKAJAN, Jan 19: A major fire broke out on Monday at the temporary operational office of the Fourlane project in Gautam Basti, Khatkhati, causing significant property damage and prompting a large-scale emergency response.
The blaze erupted around 9:45 AM inside the office premises. Police reports stated that a trailer (registration NL-01-AD-5733) recently arrived from Meghalaya was undergoing routine maintenance when the incident occurred.
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Witnesses said the fire was sparked during pipe welding work and flames spread rapidly, fuelled by the trailer’s cargo of highly flammable plastic nets.
The intensity of the fire required a cross-border response, with three fire tenders dispatched from Dimapur, one fire engine from Assam and Khatkhati Police personnel assisting in crowd control and firefighting operations.
The fire was eventually brought under control after several hours of effort. Officials reported that the office was completely gutted and a dumper parked nearby sustained partial damage. Fortunately, no injuries or loss of life were reported.
“The fire intensified rapidly due to the plastic cargo, rendering the vehicle unsalvageable by the time the main blaze was controlled,” said a local official.
Authorities have launched a formal investigation into the incident. Preliminary findings suggest welding sparks may have triggered the fire and officials are reviewing whether safety protocols were properly followed during the repair work at the site.
