Assam: Massive fire destroys shops in Howly town in Barpeta

A massive fire broke out in Howly town in Assam’s Barpeta district last night, causing heavy damage and panic in the area. The fire started near the petrol pump on Thana Road, close to the main four-way intersection.

Around 15 shops and business places were destroyed in the fire. These included pharmacies, wholesale medicine stores, and laboratories. Some of the affected shops were Town Pharmacy, Arzu Laboratory, Ali Varieties, Sathi Online Center, and AS Drugs Distributors.

Also Read: Assam Govt to launch eviction drive in Goalpara’s Dahikata RF on November 9-10

People who saw the incident said the fire spread very quickly and covered many nearby shops within minutes. Fire fighters from Howly, Barpeta Road, and Barpeta rushed to the spot. They used eight fire engines and worked for nearly three hours to control the flames.

Also Read: Meghalaya Cement Crisis Deepens as Truckers’ Strike Halts Supplies Since Oct 27

Thankfully, the fire was brought under control before it could spread further. The reason behind the fire is not yet known, and officials have started an investigation.

Also Read: Assam: Nirmala Sitharaman, Himanta Biswa Sarma Inspect TATA’s Semiconductor Hub at Jagiroad

The total loss is expected to be several crores of rupees, which is a big setback for the local business community.