Meghalaya State Assembly building gutted

SHILLONG, January 9: The historic Meghalaya State Assembly building was totally gutted this evening in a devastating fire. The fire, which started from a suspected short-circuit around 8.15 pm, engulfed the pre-Independence Assam-type building quickly. The building earlier housed the Assam Assembly till the hill State was born in 1972. Valuable records, including Assembly proceedings since the creation of Meghalaya, is presumed lost in the fire. Assembly Speaker ED Marak described the incident as unfortunate. Speaking to The Assam Tribune around 10.30 pm he ruled out any sabotage but hastened to add "cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained". State Information and Public Relations Minister AH Scott Lyngdoh who was surveying the blaze said, "It is a big loss." The building was inaugurated sometime in 1924 by the then British Commissioner of undivided Assam Marris, he informed. Except some wooden almirahs, some files and a refrigerator, virtually nothing could be salvaged as the blazing heat prevented fire-fighters to get close to the building. Eyewitnesses said the fire probably started around 4.30 pm as huge plumes of smoke was seen coming out from the chimneys from about 5.30 pm but nobody suspected it was a fire. By the time the fire was first noticed it was about 8.15 pm but it quickly engulfed the entire premises. According to latest reports, the blaze has been brought under control but it may take several hours more to completely douse the fire. The actual damages are yet to be assessed.