Kali Puja night inferno threatens Silchar market, multiple lives lost elsewhere

A ferocious fire ignited on the night of Kali Puja in a warehouse in Silchar's Rongpur sector, stirring fear among residents and traders. The storage facility, owned by Suman Dhar and positioned on the Silchar‑Infal Highway near an SBI branch, contained stockpiles of biscuits, cakes, chocolates and other consumables.

The blaze quickly engulfed the premises, sending dense smoke over the adjacent Shivbadi area. Police, fire‑fighters and emergency medical crews were dispatched immediately. After an intensive operation, the fire was finally brought under control, though the damage was extensive.

Authorities suspect that an errant spark from the Kali Puja fireworks or an uncontrolled flame may have triggered the disaster, but a conclusive cause has not been established.

Early damage assessments suggest losses running into several lakh rupees, with a comprehensive valuation still pending.

The Silchar fire occurs against a backdrop of two separate Diwali‑night tragedies in Madhya Pradesh’s Katni and Seoni districts, where a combined total of 12 people—including a two‑month‑old infant—lost their lives. In Katni, a three‑storey building that combined a ground‑floor crockery shop with residential apartments was consumed by flames, trapping the occupants. In Seoni, a house belonging to the Sony family was set ablaze, killing six members ranging from seniors to a teenage boy.

Investigations into all three fires are ongoing, and the spate of incidents during major festivals has intensified scrutiny over fire‑safety standards, public awareness, and the readiness of emergency services across the nation.