Blaze kills two, leaves six houses gutted in Falam

12 January 2021 – An early morning blaze has killed two persons in Falam in what is the second deadly fire incident in the past one week in Chin State.

According to government sources, the accidental fire broke out in Farthawk ward of Falam, Chin State and six residential houses were gutted at around 4:10 am last night.

Mang Hlei Zing, 69, a Christian pastor pensioner, and a deaf woman Rah Thang, 42, died in the fire. The dead bodies were found only when the fire was completely put out at around 5:10 am.

The fire was reported to have started from an electric heater used in the bedroom of Mang Hlei Zing, which is a two-storied wooden house. The fire spread out to other five wooden houses in the immediate neighborhood belonging to Run Rem Thuan, Ci Hem, Hram Dim, Hrin Thiam and Zaw Tun. All but one was two-storied structures.

Seven fire engines from Falam District Fire Department extinguished the fire with the help of residents in the neighborhood. Families of the fire victims are currently sheltered with their relatives.

Four additional houses on the pathway of the fire were pre-emptively destroyed to stem the spread of the fire to the larger neighborhood.

Mr. Ca Zung Mang, Fire Department of Falam District, was quoted by The Hakha Times as saying Chin State Government grants 225 USD for 14 households and donates other commodities.

A similar accidental fire destroyed three houses and killed one man in Hakha last Saturday. – Reporting by Cer Len Ci and Naomy VT Chin.