14 die in Arunachal hostel fire

The students of Holy Angel Don Bosco School, both boys and girls, were killed after a fire swept through a hostel made of bamboo at Palin area in the district, Officer on Special Duty to the chief minister Nob Tshering said. Prima facie, it appears that a short circuit could have led to the blaze, he said.

“The fire broke out at 2:30 am. There were about 56-60 students in the hostel when the mishap took place,” Deputy Inspector General of Police (Crime) Tashi Lama said.

Tshering said two platoons of reinforcements were rushed from the district headquarters of Koloriang to Palin. A platoon of Central Reserve Police Force was rushed as tension prevailed in the area following a clash between locals and school authorities after the incident.