AIZAWL: A massive fire broke out in the early hours of March 17 at Aizawl’s City Centre Treasury market, reducing half of the commercial complex to ashes. The fire broke out at around 3:30 in the morning near the Assembly House, destroying 60 of the market's 120 small businesses, including stores that sold apparel, vegetables, and household items.
Despite the considerable damage caused by the fire, fire department personnel stated that no casualties were reported. The PAMRA (Pensioners’ Association of Mizoram) office, located in an adjacent building, was destroyed, while other floors of the structure remained intact.
Although the source of the fire is still unknown, preliminary investigations indicate that drug users, who frequently seek shelter in the market at night, lit the bonfire that may have triggered the inferno. To determine the origin of the fire, officials are reviewing CCTV video and carrying out additional investigations.
This incident contributes to Mizoram's alarming trend of fire-related destruction. According to data released by the state’s Environment, Forests & Climate Change Department in February, the state recorded 3,612 fire incidents in 2024 alone, damaging nearly 4,000 hectares of land. Among these, 116 were classified as forest fires, while 3,496 were linked to jhum (shifting) cultivation practices.
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