https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=2023_Kohima_fire2023 Kohima fire - Revision history2026-07-31T02:56:22ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=2023_Kohima_fire&diff=483072&oldid=prevGeorgeNobbs1 at 04:34, 10 August 20252025-08-10T04:34:23Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Major fire in Kohima}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}<br />
{{Infobox event<br />
| image =<br />
| caption = The fire as seen from Aradura Hill<br />
| date = 27 February 2023<br />
| time = 4:50 p.m ([[Indian Standard Time|IST]])<br />
| duration = 3 hours (under control)<br />Over 12 hours (fully extinguished)<br />
| place = [[Kohima]], [[Nagaland]], India<br />
| coordinates = {{coord|25.657829|N|94.101012|E|display=inline,title}}<br />
| type = [[Structure fire]]<br />
| cause = Suspected [[Short circuit|electrical short circuit]]; under investigation<br />
| url = <br />
| casualties1 = None<br />
| casualties2 = <br />
| website = <br />
}}<br />
On 27 February 2023, a massive fire broke in [[Kohima]], the capital of Nagaland causing complete damage to Mao Market and NN Market, one of the biggest commercial areas in Kohima.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/massive-fire-breaks-out-at-mao-market-in-nagaland-kohima-2340384-2023-02-27|title=Massive fire breaks out at Mao Market in Nagaland's Kohima|date=27 February 2023|website=[[India Today]]|access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref><br />
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Over 200 shops were gutted which is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit as per police report.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.morungexpress.com/major-fire-breaks-out-in-kohima-1|title=Major fire breaks out in Kohima|date=27 February 2023|website=[[The Morung Express]]|access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref> The incident took place on the [[election day|polling day]] of the [[2023 Nagaland Legislative Assembly election]].<br />
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== Market ==<br />
The Mao Market was opened on 20 May 1999 by [[Neiphiu Rio]], the then-Home Minister of Nagaland. It housed a variety of shops including vegetables, meat products, groceries, clothing and cosmetics.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/massive-fire-at-mao-market-in-kohima-nagaland-guts-over-200-shops-123022701463_1.html|title=Massive fire at Mao market in Kohima, Nagaland guts over 200 shops|date=27 February 2023|website=[[Business Standard]]|access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref><br />
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== Fire ==<br />
The fire reportedly broke out at approximately 5:00&nbsp;p.m. on Monday, 27 February 2023.<ref name=":0" /> The fire was first spotted on the ground floor of the three-storeyed Mao Market commercial building.<br />
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As the building housed structures made of wood, the fire spread quickly, destroying the entire wooden structure and causing substantial damage to the adjacent houses in the area. Locals alleged that the fire services failed to arrive in time though the area is located opposite to the Nagaland Fire and Emergency services station, further aggravating the situation.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-03-01 |title=Kohima fire leaves a trail of devastation |url=https://www.morungexpress.com/kohima-fire-leaves-a-trail-of-devastation |access-date=2025-08-10 |work=The Morung Express}}</ref><br />
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Around 150 [[firefighter]]s and over 20 [[fire engine|firetender]]s from across Kohima, including those from the [[Assam Rifles]] and fire engines from [[Khuzama]], [[Chiephobozou]], [[Chümoukedima]] and [[Dimapur]] were brought in to fight the blaze.<br />
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Patients at the adjacent Bethel Medical Centre were evacuated to Oking Hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://easternmirrornagaland.com/fire-breaks-out-in-kohima/|title=Fire breaks out in Kohima|date=27 February 2023|website=[[Eastern Mirror]]|access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref><br />
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At its peak, the inferno rose to over 80 feet and the flames were visible from many parts of Kohima and surrounding towns and villages.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nagalandpost.com/index.php/massive-fire-devastates-mao-market-in-kohima/|title=Massive fire devastates Mao market in Kohima|date=27 February 2023|website=[[Nagaland Post]]|access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref><br />
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== Aftermath ==<br />
More than 200 shops in the commercial area and several private residences were destroyed. The next day, 28 February, Nagaland [[List of chief ministers of Nagaland|Chief Minister]] [[Neiphiu Rio]] visited the site and met with the affected families whose shops and residences were burnt down.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://easternmirrornagaland.com/cm-neiphiu-rio-visits-mao-market-fire/|title=Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio visits Mao Market fire incident site in Kohima|date=27 February 2023|website=[[Eastern Mirror]]|access-date=28 February 2023}}</ref><br />
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== References ==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kohima fire, 2023}}<br />
[[Category:2023 fires in Asia]]<br />
[[Category:2020s in Kohima]]<br />
[[Category:Building and structure fires in India]]<br />
[[Category:February 2023 in India]]<br />
[[Category:Kohima]]</div>GeorgeNobbs1