Kaying, Siang District – In a heart-wrenching incident that has left several families homeless, a devastating fire on July 14 consumed seven houses and two granaries in Kaying, Siang district. The scale of destruction has prompted an outpouring of support from the Adi community, with the Adi Baane Kebang (ABK), alongside its student and youth wings—Adi Students’ Union (AdiSU) and Adi Baane Kebang Youth Wing (ABKYW)—swiftly reaching out to the affected.
On Saturday, a joint team led by ABK President Tanon Tatak, including Vice President Smty Olen Megu Damin, ABKYW President Oki Dai, and AdiSU President Jirbo Jamoh, visited the fire-ravaged village. The delegation extended a hand of solidarity, offering comfort and distributing crucial relief materials to the distressed families. President Tatak assured the victims that the community would continue to provide assistance as needed in the days to come.
Speaking during the visit, President Tatak expressed profound grief over the tragedy. “Fire disasters are among the gravest tragedies, often leaving families with nothing. We, the ABK and the Adi community, stand united with the people of Kaying in this hour of grief. May such heartbreaking incidents never occur again,” he stated, emphasizing the collective sorrow and support of the Adi people.
In a poignant audio message shared later, Vice President Olen Megu Damin recounted an extraordinary and unsettling detail from the incident. Locals described how, as the fire started in one home, the woman of the house ran to neighbouring homes seeking refuge. Astonishingly, each house she approached subsequently caught fire. Villagers, fearing a wider catastrophe, were compelled to prevent her from entering more residences. She eventually crossed a rivulet and sought shelter in a distant agricultural hut, known locally as an Ippo or Poyup, which, tragically, also succumbed to the flames.
“This shocking incident has revived the traditional wisdom passed down through generations,” Damin reflected. She highlighted how this bizarre occurrence seemingly validated age-old customs like Nyonam and Kojing Kunam, which advocate for restricted movement during fire tragedies. “Such customs, often regarded as superstitions, are rooted in deep communal knowledge. In times of disaster, our entire community traditionally observes a period of mourning, refraining from fieldwork and other activities.”
AdiSU President Jirbo Jamoh underlined the spirit of communal solidarity that brought them to Kaying. “We came not just to offer aid but to listen, to empathise, and to understand how best we can support them. In these testing times, it is essential that we remain united and responsive,” Jamoh affirmed, reinforcing the message of unity and unwavering support for the affected families.