Mysterious fires worrying villagers in Thakurgaon

Dwellers of Choto Singia Munshipara village in Baliadangi upazila of Thakurgaon are passing days in great worries over recurrent fire incidents.

However, the cause of the origin of the fires which have been occurring for about one month is yet to be determined.

Even amidst vigilance the fire breaks out suddenly engulfing rooms, furniture, clothes, straw heaps or sacks of food grains.

For this, the villagers cannot sleep without fear.

To douse the fire, villagers have set up pumps at different points, they are also reserving water in pots with their reach.

Police and firefighters are yet to determine the actual cause of fire incidents after visiting the village.

During a recent visit, this correspondent observed that there are about 80 households in the village. Signs of anxiety could be seen on the people's faces especially among the women and children.

They have kept their belongings including clothes, bags, and books in their courtyard to save those from the fire.

Talking to this correspondent, the villagers said, the fire originated at the house of one Muslim Uddin about a month ago, which was doused by the firefighters. Soon after extinguishing the fire, it (fire) also broke out at Sirajuddin's straw heap. Fire service also doused the fire.

After these incidents, the fire originated at the houses of Babul Hossain, Abdus Salam, Delwar Hossain, Moksedul, Merina Begum and Saifullah at the same village.

It broke out at different places including straw heaps, bedcover, clothes, fences, sacks but the villagers are yet to find the source of the fire.

Moksedul Islam the fire broke out over fifty times at different houses during the period. The number of incidents is increasing for a week in comparison to the previous couple of weeks.  

Amena Begum said they cannot keep clothes on the racks. Their clothes including Sharee, Lungi, and dresses were burnt.

Now, they keep the clothes on the floor instead of racks to save them.

Station Officer of Baliadangi Fire Service and Civil Defense Delwar Hossain said, "We cannot say the exact reason of the fires on the houses." However, he has ruled out any supernatural connection of the fire as some villagers are saying.

Superintendent of Police in Thakurgaon Mohammad Jahangir Hossain said officials of Baliadangi Police Station have been asked for strengthening police patrol there.

Twelve persons in the village were detained in connection with the incident early yesterday, said DB police in the district.