A fire broke out at 36 Debendra Chandra Dey Road in ward 57 on 21.01.2010 at 12.05 am. Twenty six fire engines were pressed into urgent service on a war footing but by the time the fire came under control, it had taken toll of all the 86 illegal jhupries, 28 business establishments along the canal side and the 16 pucca houses on the opposite side, rendering about 124 families homeless. Nothing could be saved and household items like beds, almirahs, showcases, television sets, books, utensils, clothes, beddings and even cash were reduced to ashes within a short span of time. The night was windy and even the pucca houses opposite to the site of the jhupris were damaged by the fire......and i came to know of the three new LPG autos and two new pulsar bikes that were also reduced to ashes. Such devastations are not unknown to the local muslim populace and it was brought to our notice that at least such fires have taken place in the late 90's and for the last three consequetive years of 2008, 2009 and the present 2010.
Then why such happenings are so frequent in this locality ? The answer is in the flames of this devastating fire outbreak. This area was used as a recycling business location by the local populace and rejected rubber and plastic goods like tyres, chappals, belts and innumerable plastic household materials of all shapes and sizes are dumped in huge quantities for sorting, shredding and recycling with chemicals. There was a huge stock of such chemicals at the site and thus the fire did not come as a great surprise for the inhabitants of this locality.
They have always lived a subnormal and harm prone life on the edge, to make the life of the priviledged, more pleasant and satisfying. Maybe an alternate vocation, that will be financially viable to maintain their families, will offer a permanent solution and stoppage of such devastating fires in the future.
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