A devastating fire engulfed the residence of former Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) MDC, Fersen Ch Momin, son of Meghalaya’s first Chief Minister, Capt. Williamson Sangma, on Tuesday afternoon. The blaze broke out at Momin’s house in Hawakhana, Tura, causing extensive damage before firefighters managed to contain it after nearly an hour of intense efforts. At least four to five fire trucks were deployed to douse the flames.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported. However, the cause of the fire remains unknown. The house is part of the compound where Capt. Williamson Sangma’s ancestral home stands, but the original structure remained unaffected.
Adding to the concerns, the site of the fire also houses Momin Gas Agency, while the nearby AOC petrol pump further heightened the risk. Authorities temporarily closed roads leading to Hawakhana from Babupara and the main market area to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles.
As a precautionary measure, power supply to Chandmary, the DC office, and Bazar areas was cut off and will only be restored after clearance from the CEO of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).
Fersen Ch Momin is also the father of Daryl William Cheran Momin, son-in-law of Leader of Opposition and veteran politician Dr. Mukul Sangma. The incident has raised concerns about fire safety in the area, with officials closely monitoring the situation.