A massive fire broke out at Mao Market Complex at Sokhriezie, BOC on Monday evening. Perhaps the most popular market in Kohima, it is also located at one of the most crowded areas in Nagaland’s capital Kohima.

Most famous for the variety of fresh local vegetables and exotic food sold by the women vendors, there are a good number of stores inside the complex that sell a range of items from clothes to household items.

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Sources have also said that the fire brigade trucks could not reach on time to douse the fire because of traffic, given that today was the polling day in Nagaland and since the DC Office Complex Kohima is the designated Dispatch and Receiving Centre of Polling materials and EVM machines, the traffic in Kohima town is expected to be even busier than usual on Monday.

The fire at Mao Market complex, Kohima on 27 February 2023.

Rumours are circulating that the fire has spread to Bethel Medical Centre Kohima, which is situated right behind the Mao Market Complex, but that the centre is safe. Although, it has been informed that all alternative arrangements are being made to in case it spreads to the Hospital.

As per witnesses, the fire has spread to Potterlane Colony, which is below Bethel Medical Centre.

The fire started around 5:00 pm but till the filing of this report, the Fire and Emergency Service Department, the Assam Rifles, Nagaland Police and Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority (NSDMA)s and the Public were still working to bring the inferno in control.

The cause of the fire has not been ascertained yet.