Aizawl: A massive fire broke out at Aizawl’s City Centre Treasury market in the early hours of March 17, reducing half of the commercial complex to ashes.
The blaze, which erupted around 3:30 am near the Assembly House, destroyed 60 of the market’s 120 small businesses, including shops selling vegetables, clothing, and household goods.
Fire department officials confirmed that no casualties were reported, though the inferno caused extensive damage. The office of the PAMRA (Pensioners’ Association of Mizoram) located in an adjacent building was completely gutted, while other floors of the structure remained intact.
Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire, but initial investigations suggest it may have been sparked by a bonfire lit by drug users who often take refuge in the market at night. Officials are examining CCTV footage and conducting further inquiries to establish the source of the blaze.
This incident adds to the alarming trend of fire-related destruction in Mizoram. According to data released by the state’s Environment, Forests & Climate Change Department in February, the state recorded 3,612 fire incidents in 2024 alone, damaging nearly 4,000 hectares of land. Among these, 116 were classified as forest fires, while 3,496 were linked to jhum (shifting) cultivation practices.
The state’s Directorate of Fire and Emergency Services further revealed that between 2018 and 2024, fires destroyed 278 homes in Mizoram, resulting in 22 fatalities. In 2023, 40 houses were damaged by fires, claiming four lives. The worst year for property damage was 2021, when 71 homes were destroyed, while 2022 recorded the highest number of fire-related deaths, with 15 casualties.
The devastating market fire has reignited concerns over fire safety in Aizawl’s commercial hubs, prompting calls for stricter enforcement of fire prevention measures and enhanced surveillance in public spaces.
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