40 shops gutted in Deoghar fire

Dumka: A total of 40 shops were gutted in a fire that broke out at Meena Bazaar in Deoghar on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. No casualty or injury was reported in the incident though property and goods worth Rs 2.5 crore were destroyed, officials said.

Four fire tenders were pressed into service but the make-shift shops were reduced to ashes. High-speed winds added to the challenges faced by the fire brigade personnel.

An affected shopkeeper, Ramesh Goswami, said. "I recently stocked garments, including woollens, worth Rs 10 lakh. All have been all reduced to ashes."

Another shopkeeper, Ravindra Sah, added, "This shop was our bread and butter."

Deoghar SDO (Civil) Ravi Kumar said, "The losses suffered by each affected shopkeeper would be assessed for providing them with suitable compensation," adding, "The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained but the possibility of involvement of antisocial elements can't be ruled out.

A fire had gutted two shops here on January 14. "An FIR was lodged against unknown miscreants but no investigation was held," shopkeepers alleged.

Deoghar dputy commissioner (DC) Vishal Sagar visited the area on Saturday and spoke to the affected traders.

"DC Vishal Sagar instructed the official concerned to assess the loss of property of the respective victims. He urged for regular police patrolling in the area and deployment of guard," a press release issued by the district public relation department on Saturday said.