Jorhat (Assam): A massive fire ravaged the famed Chowk Bazaar, the commercial hub of Assam's Jorhat city, on Thursday night. The fire broke out at around 9:30 pm and destroyed the Bazaar, which is located in the center of Jorhat city and equated to Chandni Chowk of Delhi.
The fire which began at the cloth store near the entrance spread to one business after another and gobbled up most of the market. At least 530 businesses in the Chowk Bazaar instantly went up in flames. Sources said the fire was believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit. A section of the businessmen who suspect foul play have sought a thorough probe to identify the actual cause of the fire.
The fire destroyed properties worth several crores of rupees. The businessmen were seen crying in grief as they witnessed their only source of income being swallowed by the flames. When the fire was raging, the eyewitnesses heard loud noise of blasts akin to fireworks. Eyewitnesses wonder as to what caused such sounds. It is still unclear whether someone had stored fireworks illegally.
The fire was extinguished by the fire brigade vehicles from Jorhat district and adjacent districts after fighting arduously for hours together. It maybe recalled that it the second incident of a major fire in Jorhat in as many months. Earlier in December last year, a massive fire gutted several shops in the Marwari Patty area here in Jorhat.
