MAJULI, Nov 9: Seven rental rooms were gutted in a fire at Natun Bazar in Upper Majuli at around 11 pm on Saturday, with property loss estimated at over Rs 20 lakh.
The rooms, located in the house of Natun Bazar resident Ganesh De, were completely destroyed. Household items, clothes, cash and essential documents belonging to the tenants were reduced to ashes.
A scooter kept in one of the rooms was also completely burnt.
The cause of the fire was not known. Local residents suspected that sparks from firecrackers or fireworks set off nearby during Diwali may have triggered the blaze.
Local people tried to control the fire and eventually extinguished it.
Residents alleged that fire service personnel reached the spot only after the blaze had been put out. They said the distance between the fire service office at Jengraimukh in Upper Majuli and Natun Bazar caused the delay.
Local people demanded the setting up of a permanent fire service sub-centre or office at Natun Bazar to prevent such incidents in future.
