At least four people, including three children and a woman, were killed and 25 houses were burnt down after a massive fire swept through Parsi Parlo town in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kurung Kumey district early on Thursday morning, leaving several families homeless.
The identities of the deceased and the full extent of property damage are yet to be officially confirmed. Ruja urged the state government to immediately provide relief, rehabilitation and other necessary assistance to families who lost their homes and belongings. The tragedy has brought the lack of firefighting infrastructure in the remote district into sharp focus. The absence of timely firefighting assistance is believed to have hampered efforts to contain the flames, allowing the fire to spread across the settlement. Chief minister Pema Khandu expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and widespread destruction, describing the incident as heartbreaking. He conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and expressed concern over reports of missing persons. Khandu also acknowledged the efforts of the district administration, police, emergency responders, volunteers and residents involved in responding to the tragedy. He urged the concerned authorities to ensure all necessary assistance is provided to families affected by the fire. Meanwhile, All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) president Jamru Ruja expressed grief over the incident and assured solidarity with the affected residents.
Police sources said the fire was suspected to have originated in a kitchen, although its exact cause remains under investigation. Parsi Parlo has no fire station, while a fire tender stationed at Koloriang reportedly failed to reach the affected area in time owing to its dilapidated condition, according to sources.
