Massive fire at Guwahati commercial complex still burning after 33hrs
What's the story
A massive fire has been raging at the Swagata Square Complex in Guwahati, Assam, since early Wednesday. The blaze broke out around 12:30am on Wednesday and has continued for over 33 hours. The multi-story building houses the State Bank of India's (SBI) Northeast regional office and a shopping mall, Sohum Emporia. "The fire is now at...backside of the building. However, due to non-adherence to safety norms while construction, fire tenders are unable to reach the rear," an official told PTI.
Containment challenges
Firefighters struggle to control blaze, IAF, Army join efforts
Per PTI, despite the deployment of over 25 fire tenders from Assam Fire & Emergency Services and support from Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Army water tenders, the fire remains largely uncontrolled. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also been called in with their smoke reduction machine. Smoke is billowing from the second floor where the fire started at a godown of Sohum Emporia, a senior official of the Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) told PTI.
Damage assessment
SBI documents feared damaged, cause of fire unknown
The SBI's premises, including the regional office, are among the worst affected. Staff members fear important financial documents may be lost in the blaze. "There are loan files, education-related documents and many other important papers in the building," a senior SBI employee said. The cause of the fire is still unknown but some reports suggest it could have been caused by decorative lighting for the festive season.
Safety scrutiny
Fire safety concerns raised after Guwahati blaze
The incident has once again raised questions about fire safety measures in the city. A resident of the area said, "Sohum Emporia is one of the premium buildings in this area, and if something like this can happen here, we'd request the government to check the condition of other malls and commercial buildings across Guwahati." An inquiry will look into whether Sohum Emporia had functional fire safety mechanisms such as alarms and sprinklers.