Itanagar, Feb 22: A devastating fire destroyed several SPT-type houses at Hapa village in Lekhi, near Naharlagun town in Arunachal Pradesh on February 22, leaving multiple families homeless and triggering criticism over the state’s emergency response system.
Eyewitnesses said the blaze spread swiftly through the closely packed wooden structures, reducing homes to ashes within a short span. While there was no official confirmation of casualties at the time of filing this report, residents stated that properties and household belongings were completely gutted.
Local denizens alleged that the fire brigade reached the site late, allowing the flames to intensify. They further claimed that emergency contact numbers of fire stations published in state newspapers were either unreachable or non-functional during the crisis. Authorities have yet to issue a detailed statement on the cause of the fire or respond to the allegations of delayed intervention.
The incident comes close on the heels of another major blaze earlier this month in Walong town of Anjaw district. On the night of February 13, a massive fire engulfed parts of Walong, prompting panic and urgent containment efforts.
Following the Walong incident, local MLA and minister Dasanglu Pul had expressed concern over the scale of destruction and urged residents and travellers to strictly follow safety advisories. She emphasised that safeguarding lives, property and the environment must remain a top priority and warned that any deliberate attempt to cause harm or disturb peace would invite strict legal action.
She had also appealed for cooperation with frontline responders and called for collective community efforts to ensure safety across Anjaw district and the state.
With two significant fire incidents reported within weeks, concerns are mounting over fire safety infrastructure, response time and overall preparedness of authorities in Arunachal Pradesh.
