Agartala, 19th June 2026: A devastating fire caused extensive damage in the Singtila area under Damdama Gram Panchayat of Sabroom subdivision in South Tripura on Friday. The blaze completely destroyed the residence of Debashis Majumdar, along with a four-wheeler, a motorcycle, and a stockpile of rubber sheets. The incident has sparked widespread concern in the locality, while the affected family has raised serious allegations regarding the response of the Fire and Emergency Services.
According to reports, the fire broke out in one of the rooms of the house on Friday morning. After noticing smoke and flames, homeowner Debashis Majumdar immediately informed the Sabroom Fire Service station. However, family members alleged that firefighters failed to reach the spot in time despite the fire station being located less than 500 metres from the affected house.
Local residents and family members claimed that the damage could have been significantly reduced had the fire brigade arrived promptly. They further alleged that the situation worsened due to technical faults in the firefighting equipment. According to eyewitnesses, a water hose used by firefighters reportedly burst after they reached the scene, and the water supply in the fire engine was exhausted shortly thereafter.
To bring the situation under control, an additional fire engine was called in from Manubazar. After nearly two hours of firefighting efforts involving both units, the blaze was finally contained. By then, however, most of the house had been reduced to ashes.
Preliminary reports suggest that a large quantity of rubber was stored in one of the rooms where the fire is believed to have originated. The flames quickly spread throughout the house, engulfing a motorcycle and a four-wheeler parked in front of the residence. Both vehicles were completely destroyed.
The incident created panic in the densely populated neighbourhood, with residents fearing that the fire could spread to nearby houses. Many people rushed to move their valuables to safety as a precaution.
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown. Fire Service officials and the administration have launched an investigation into the incident. Meanwhile, allegations of delayed response and faulty firefighting equipment have triggered strong resentment among local residents and the affected family.
