As all stores were closed and their owners and employees had gone home on Thursday night, there are no reports of any casualties.
Digital Desk: Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday paid a visit to the historic "Chowk Bazar" in the Jorhat area, where a devastating fire destroyed over 300 shops, and he declared that the government will assist the afflicted merchants in getting back on their feet.
Along with Rajya Sabha MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, local BJP MLA Hitendra Nath Goswami, and Jorhat Deputy Commissioner Pulak Mahanta, the Union Shipping, Ports, and Waterways Minister assessed the situation.
"Rehabilitating every impacted person is our goal. Sonowal told reporters in Jorhat, "I have already spoken with Tasa, Goswami, and the DC this morning about the development.
The union minister added that the Assam government would take the appropriate actions in this regard and that he would speak with the chief minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, about the rehabilitation of the victims.
One of the shop owners appealed to Sonowal to provide them with temporary solutions so they could open for business as soon as possible.
"We are pleased that the government has plans to erect a long-term structure here. It will take a while to do this. It will be impossible for us to survive if we don't have any room throughout the construction period," he added.
Assam Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan and Jorhat Deputy Commissioner visited the site on Friday and assured the traders that, after an evaluation of the losses is completed, every effort will be made to assist them.
A severe fire that destroyed "Chowk Bazar" from the British era reduced more than 300 stores to ashes. After over ten hours of firefighting, the flame that started late on Thursday night in the centre of Jorhat town was put out on Friday morning.
As all stores were closed and their owners and employees had gone home on Thursday night, there are no reports of any casualties.
Groceries, clothing, utensils, books, and stationery were the main products sold at the damaged stores.
The fire, which is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit at a shop, was quickly put out by more than 50 fire tenders who were rushed to the market.
At first, 25 fire tenders rushed to the spot, but they struggled to navigate the market's adjacent narrow lanes.
After that, additional firefighters and trucks from the adjacent towns of Titabor, Mariani, Golaghat, and Sivasagar were dispatched to the scene along with personnel from the Numaligarh Refinery, the ONGC, and the Air Force station in Jorhat.
In the past two months, Jorhat has experienced two similar fire incidents. Many stores in the Marwari Patty neighbourhood were destroyed by a significant fire in December 2022.
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