A fire that swept through Parsi-Parlo town in Arunachal Pradesh’s Kurung Kumey district early Thursday killed four members of a family, including three children, and destroyed 24 houses, while the absence of a local fire station raised questions about emergency response in the remote settlement.
The deceased were a woman and her three minor children — two sons and a daughter. The woman’s husband has remained unaccounted for since the incident, raising fears that the death toll could increase, Deputy Commissioner Cheechung Chukhu said.
The fire reportedly broke out at around 2.30am and spread rapidly to adjoining houses. Nineteen houses were completely gutted and five others were partially damaged, according to the District Disaster Management Officer. The exact cause has not been established, although preliminary reports indicated that the fire may have originated in a kitchen.
Chukhu said the casualty figure and the extent of the damage could only be confirmed after a detailed assessment. A team of officials from the district headquarters in Koloriang reached Parsi-Parlo on Thursday morning to oversee rescue and relief operations.
The incident also highlighted the firefighting limitations faced by the town. Sources cited in the report said Parsi-Parlo does not have a fire station, while the fire tender stationed in Koloriang, around 38 kilometres away, reportedly could not reach the affected area in time.
The delay is believed to have hampered efforts to contain the blaze as it spread through adjoining houses. With the husband still missing, officials are continuing the assessment of casualties and property damage while relief operations remain under way.
