A catastrophic fire ravaged Pareng village in Siang district on Wednesday night, destroying 24 houses and partially damaging seven others. The fire, which broke out around 8:40 pm, also damaged four huts and injured two residents, according to District Disaster Management Officer (DDMO) Obang Apum. Fortunately, there were no major casualties reported. The Aalo fire brigade managed to extinguish the flames, with Superintendent of Police Opir Paron, Additional Deputy Commissioner Tajing Jonnom, and District Medical Officer Tarik Talom arriving on the scene to assess the damage and assist the residents.
The fire is believed to have started from unattended pork roasting over an open fire. The lack of fire stations in Siang district exacerbated the situation, underscoring the urgent need for improved fire-fighting infrastructure. In response to the disaster, the DDMO, in collaboration with the Siang District Students Union, distributed essential supplies to the affected villagers on August 1. The community has come together to support those impacted, as noted by District Information & Public Relations Officer Neyang Pertin.
Additionally, the Adi Students’ Union (AdiSU) has organized a two-day donation drive for the fire victims on August 3 and 4 across several districts, including Upper Siang, Siang, East Siang, Namsai, Lower Dibang Valley, Shi-Yomi, and the state capital area. AdiSU is calling for widespread support to aid the victims.
