Hill Voice, 25 February 2025, Rangamati: A devastating fire in Sajek Tourism under Baghaichari Upazila of Rangamati Hill District has completely gutted 35 houses, including 16 Lusai families and 19 Tripura families. The fire broke out on Monday (24 February) afternoon.
In addition, at least 35 cottages and restaurants have been gutted in the devastating fire, according to multiple sources.
A local representative confirmed that the fire first broke out at a cottage called Ikup Valley on Monday afternoon and spread to several nearby family houses, cottages and restaurants.
A responsible person from the Sajek Resort Cottage Owners Association told the Hill Voice, “The fire quickly got out of control due to the strong winds in the month of Falgun. The cottages on both sides of the road and the houses of Lusai and Tripura gradually caught fire and were burnt down one after the other.”
A local representative confirmed that the fire first broke out at a cottage called Ikup Valley on Monday afternoon and spread to several nearby cottages and restaurants.
A responsible person from the Sajek Resort Cottage Owners Association told the media, “The fire quickly got out of control due to the strong winds in the month of Falgun. The cottages on both sides of the road and the houses of Lusai and Tripura gradually caught fire and were burnt down one after the other.”
Many have expressed the opinion that if the houses had been built in accordance with the balance of nature and according to the knowledge of the indigenous peoples, the damage would not have been so devastating in this fire. Experts have expressed the opinion that the construction of such slum-like houses and cottages in defiance of nature and ignoring the knowledge of the indigenous peoples has caused such terrible damage in this fire.
As a result of this fire, the extremely poor Tripura and Lusai families have now become homeless. They could not save anything except the clothes they wore. The names of the heads of the families of the Tripura and Lusai people affected by the fire are given below:
List and names of Tripura communities:
1) Mithun Tripura; 2) Bobin Tripura; 3) Manjiri Tripura; 4) Jasim Tripura; 5) Khushi Ram Tripura; 6) Bishwa Babu Tripura; 7) Ranjan Tripura; 8) Mukh Se Tripura; 9) Suman Tripura; 10) Rasaranjan Tripura; 11) Japan Mala Tripura; 12) Suto Moni Tripura; 13) Dob Lal Tripura; 14) Dhan Babu Tripura; 15) Santosh Tripura; 16) Birbasu Tripura; 17) Koi Mini Tripura; 18) Galang Tripura and 19) Koiri Tripura.
List and names of Lusai communities:
1) Jerry Lusai; 2) Jamai Bura Lusai; 3) Je Ma Lusai; 4) Man Hun Lusai; 5) Renga Lusai; 6) Chawa Lusai; 7) Bal Bhuwan Lusai; 8) Jama Lusai; 9) Maruati Lusai; 10) Seni Lusai; 11) Mampui Lusai; 12) Thana Lusai; 13) Naijawala Lusai; 14) Wa Tui Ram Lusai; 15) Tan Luia Lusai; and 16) David Lusai.
