Sikkim: Major fire engulfs three-storey house in Sisa Golai; no casaulties reported
Officials suspect that a short circuit might have triggered the fire, a common cause of fires in the region.
LOCAL
A major fire broke out at around 12:30 PM today in Sisa Golai, destroying a three-story wooden house and causing huge damage to nearby properties. The house, owned by Padam Bahadur Thapa, was completely engulfed by flames while three other homes belonging to Mohan Basnett, Amravati Chettri and Sushila Basnett were partially damaged.
According to Sikkim’s Director General of Police (DGP) Akshay Sachdeva, upon receiving the fire emergency, police officers and fire department personnel immediately rushed to the scene. "We stopped vehicles and civilians from approaching the area to prevent further risk," DGP Sachdeva said. “The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, but it appears that four cylinders exploded, causing the fire. Local residents managed to save additional cylinders before they caught fire, and we are grateful for their timely intervention.”
Fire tenders from Singtam, Pakyong, and Rangpoo were dispatched to the scene. The blaze took place between 12:30 PM and 12:40 PM, and the initial efforts focused on controlling the fire. “Our first priority was to extinguish the flames, and once the fire is fully under control, we will assess the extent of the property damage,” Sachdeva said.
No injuries or loss of life have been reported. "We are relieved that there have been no casualties, and we credit the quick response of both the police and fire departments for preventing further damage," Sachdeva said. The exact financial loss is still being determined.
The house, which housed several tenants, including Sandeep Sundas, Roshan Sundas, Pushpa Sundas, Mukesh Chettri, Suku Doma Lepcha, Baichung Lepcha, Arjun Sharma, Bal Krishna Karki Dholi, Umesh Sharma, and Abdul Rehman, has left many families displaced. Authorities are coordinating relief efforts and the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) will provide ex gratia assistance to those affected.
Officials suspect that a short circuit might have triggered the fire, a common cause of fires in the region. Senior IPS officers and local officials are on-site, working to mitigate further risks and support the affected community.
Local volunteers played a key role in assisting fire teams and ensuring that the situation did not worsen.