Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 07 February 2024
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued a fervent appeal to the Lieutenant Governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In a formal letter addressed to the Lt. Governor, D. Ayyappan, the Secretary of CPI (M) for the A & N State Organising Committee, outlined the dire situation faced by those affected by the devastating fire accident at Rangat Bazaar.
The fire, which erupted on January 23, 2024, wreaked havoc on the bustling Rangat Bazaar, leaving in its wake the destruction of approximately 60 shops. During a firsthand inspection of the affected area, Ayyappan bore witness to the profound loss suffered by the shopkeepers, who lamented the decimation of their businesses and livelihoods.
In the absence of any immediate financial aid or relief efforts from the administration, the victims expressed their desperation to rebuild their shattered enterprises. Many of the affected shopkeepers, Ayyappan noted, rely solely on their businesses for sustenance, with some even grappling with the added burden of supporting children attending schools and colleges.
Highlighting a glimmer of hope amidst the devastation, Ayyappan revealed that the Shyamsunder Temple Committee, proprietors of the land where the gutted shops once stood, had purportedly offered to expedite the construction of a shopping complex for the benefit of the affected merchants.
However, cognizant of the urgent need for interim solutions, Ayyappan emphasized the imperative of providing temporary shelters to facilitate the resumption of business activities. He pointed out the availability of vacant government land near Rangat Bazaar, urging the Lt. Governor to intervene and direct the District Administration, North & Middle Andaman, and the Public Works Department to promptly erect temporary sheds for the displaced shopkeepers.
In light of the precarious circumstances faced by the fire-ravaged community, CPI (M) underscored the significance of swift and decisive action, calling upon authorities to expedite relief efforts and alleviate the plight of those grappling with the aftermath of the calamitous inferno.