HT Bureau
DIPHU, Oct 21: Diwali celebrations turned grim in Diphu market as a major fire gutted three shops early on Monday morning.
Eyewitnesses reported that smoke was first seen around 6:30 am from a hardware shop, with preliminary reports suggesting a short circuit may have triggered the blaze.
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The fire completely destroyed a hardware shop selling plastic chairs and other items, along with the popular ‘Ramaji Pan Shop’ and an adjacent bakery.
The ‘Ramaji Pan Shop,’ run by a migrant family from Bihar for two generations, was a local favourite among office-goers, businessmen, and residents.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze spread rapidly, consuming items worth lakhs of rupees.
While the bakery sustained partial damage, Shree Mangal Showroom nearby also suffered, with eight exterior AC exhaust fans ruined.
Firefighters arrived promptly and eventually brought the fire under control, but not before significant losses were incurred.
Residents and shopkeepers expressed shock at the scale of the destruction, noting that the fire disrupted the festive spirit and caused substantial economic loss to the affected families.
