Shillong: Assam type house gutted in fire, no casualties reported

Guwahati: A major fire broke out in Meghalaya's capital Shillong's Laban area in the late hours of the evening on Friday (August 28), officials confirmed.

The site of the fire was a 60-70-year-old Assam type house in the Laban Batti Bazaar area of the city. Soon after the fire erupted, the sound of a cylinder blast was heard coming from the site, said reports in the media. Although no casualties have been reported from the site, at least 80% of the ancient Assam type house has been gutted.

As per reports, the house was completely vacated moments after the fire broke out. Police sources informed the media that they received information about the fire around 8 pm. As many as 6 fire tenders were rushed to the site of the blaze as soon as the authorities were alerted and the situation was soon brought under control.

"It was an old Assam type house that caught fire around 8 pm in the evening on Friday. Although the exact cause of the blaze has not been ascertained, it is being suspected that the fire took place because of a gask leak", Silvester Nongtnger, the Superintendent of Police of East Khasi Hills, told The Sentinel Digital. We are of the belief that the timely arrival of the fire tenders at the site prevented the fire from getting out of hand. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported."

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