A devastating fire broke out at the Baptist church in Angjangyang Town, Mon district, on Wednesday, March 26, at around 1:30 PM, reducing the structure to ashes. The fire also completely destroyed an adjacent kitchen and office building.
E Kamnyi Konyak, president of the Angjangyang Students’ Union, told Mokokchung Times that the fire is suspected to have been caused by a short circuit. Despite efforts by locals to contain the blaze, nothing could be salvaged. “We were really helpless. All the office files and properties inside the church were burnt,” Konyak said.
The absence of a fire station in the town severely hampered rescue operations. Angjangyang, which serves as an SDO (Civil) headquarters, does not have a fire station despite its location 65 km from Mon headquarters. “Being an SDO (Civil) HQ, the lack of a fire brigade or fire station is a major concern,” said Kamnyi.
He further highlighted a recent fire incident on March 17, stressing the urgent need for fire services in the area. “On the night of March 17, a mainline wire came into contact with bamboo, sparking a forest fire. The main wire was broken at the time, causing power fluctuations that led to bulbs falling from houses across the village. During the forest fire, it was the village residents alone who were dousing the flames. It is during times like this that we really need a fire station,” he said, adding, “The presence of Fire station will not only benefit Angjangyang Town but also its neighboring areas.”
Angjangyang town, home to about 110 households with a population of 800–900 people, continues to face fire safety challenges due to the lack of adequate infrastructure. The incident has once again underlined the need for establishing fire stations in remote administrative centers like Angjangyang.