Guwahati: A devastating fire claimed the lives of four members of a family at Jaymotinagar in Jalukbari, Guwahati, in the early hours of Friday.
According to officials, the Pandu Fire and Emergency Services station received information about the fire at around 2:35 am. Firefighters rushed to the spot, but by then the flames had already engulfed the 11-room Assam-type house owned by Rehana Choudhury. Local residents said they rushed out after noticing the flames and hearing cries for help. However, the family members were trapped inside the house and could not escape.
The deceased have been identified as 55-year-old Kaddus Ali, his wife Kajoli Begum (40), their elder son Shafiqul Ali (23), and their younger son, aged 12 . Residents said the family originally belonged to Lakhipur in Goalpara district and was living in Guwahati for work.
Preliminary findings by the Fire and Emergency Services department suggest that the fire may have originated from a nearby hotel. However, the exact cause is yet to be confirmed and will be determined after forensic and police investigations. Fire officials said rescue operations were hampered by narrow lanes and vehicles parked along the road. Although six fire tenders were deployed, two water tankers could not reach the site due to access problems.
After more than two hours of firefighting, the blaze was brought under control. The bodies of the four victims were later recovered from the house and handed over to police for legal formalities.
Officials estimated that property worth around Rs 8 lakh was destroyed, while assets worth about Rs 2 lakh were saved due to the timely efforts of firefighters. The tragic incident has shocked the city and left the local community in deep mourning.
Restaurant Destroyed in Fire at Six Mile; No Casualties Reported
Another major fire broke out at a restaurant in the busy Six Mile area of Guwahati in the early hours of Friday, completely destroying the establishment.
The incident occurred at around 3:30 am at “Cafe 7”. According to initial reports, a short circuit is suspected to have caused the fire.
Witnesses noticed smoke and flames emerging from the restaurant and immediately alerted the Fire and Emergency Services department. Within minutes, several fire tenders from the Dispur Fire Station reached the spot and launched firefighting operations.
Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly 30 minutes before bringing it under control around 4 am. By then, the restaurant had been completely gutted.
Furniture, electronic equipment, kitchen appliances and interior fittings were destroyed in the fire. Preliminary estimates suggest that property worth more than Rs 50 lakh was damaged.
No injuries or casualties were reported as the restaurant was closed at the time of the incident.
Fire and police officials suspect that an electrical fault or short circuit inside the building may have triggered the blaze. However, a detailed investigation is underway to determine the exact cause.
The incident has once again highlighted the importance of regular safety inspections and proper maintenance of electrical systems in commercial establishments.
