2. 19 Houses Gutted in Kurung Kumey Blaze, Husband of Deceased Woman Remains Missing
At least four members of a family, including three children, were killed after a devastating fire swept through Parsi-Parlo town in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kurung Kumey district in the early hours of Thursday, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as a woman and her three minor children, comprising two boys and a girl. Her husband remains missing, raising concerns that the death toll could rise further.
According to Deputy Commissioner Cheechung Chukhu, the fire broke out at around 2.30 am and rapidly spread to neighbouring houses. Preliminary reports suggest the blaze may have originated in a kitchen, though the exact cause is yet to be determined.
The District Disaster Management Officer said that 19 houses were completely destroyed, while five others sustained partial damage, taking the total number of affected houses to 24.
“The casualty figure might go up. The extent of damage could only be ascertained after assessment,” Chukhu said.
A team of officials from the district headquarters in Koloriang reached the affected town on Thursday morning to supervise rescue and relief operations.
The tragedy has also exposed the lack of firefighting infrastructure in the remote region. Sources said Parsi-Parlo does not have a fire station, while a fire tender from Koloriang, located about 38 kilometres away, reportedly could not reach the area in time.
The delayed arrival of firefighting support is believed to have hampered efforts to control the rapidly spreading flames.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu expressed grief over the loss of lives and extended condolences to the bereaved families. He also thanked the local administration, police, fire services, emergency responders, volunteers and residents for their efforts and directed authorities to ensure all necessary assistance to those affected.
Meanwhile, the All Nyishi Youth Association (ANYA) also expressed sorrow over the incident and extended sympathy to the victims’ families. ANYA president Jamru Ruja urged the state government to provide immediate relief and rehabilitation support and announced that the organisation would launch a donation drive and visit the affected area to assist the victims.
