A massive fire broke out in an abandoned house near the Manipur Chief Minister's bungalow in Imphal on Saturday evening. The blaze, which consumed the former residence of a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, took firefighters over an hour to bring under control.
According to media reports, the house, once belonging to the late Thangkhopao Kipgen, a former Chief Secretary of Goa who passed away in 2005, had been vacant for more than a year after his family moved out.
The cause of the fire remains unknown at this time. The incident occurred around 5:30 pm, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air and causing panic in the area. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the house was unoccupied during the fire. However, the flames inflicted substantial damage to the structure, particularly affecting the wooden roof with galvanized tin sheets.
Firefighters from the Manipur Fire Service promptly responded to the emergency call. Containing the fire proved challenging due to its intensity and the abandoned condition of the house.
This incident comes amidst heightened tensions in Manipur's Jiribam district, near the Assam border, where clashes erupted between the Meitei community from the valley and the Hmar tribes from the hills.