By Jessy Joseph
New Delhi, Feb 22, 2022: A convent was gutted in a fire accident February 22 in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur.
All three sisters in the Daughters of St Francis de Sales convent managed to come out of their rooms when the fire broke out at 00:15 am. The convent was situated at Laii village in Senapati district.
“It is fortunate that there was no loss of life,” Father Solomon Thezii, chancellor of Imphal archdiocese, told Matters India.
The convent was in an isolated area. However, villagers rushed to the convent hearing the noise and prevented the fire from spreading to an adjacent school.
“The local people worked for an hour to put off the fire and save the Sacred Heart School,” said Father Thezii explained.
Sister Leena Mylackal, the superior, came to St. Anthony’s Mission Centre, Laii in 2019 along with Sisters Rajini and Christina. It is the congregation’s first mission center in Manipur. They are engaged in education and family catechesis.
Father Thezii said the village had no electricity for a few days so leakage from cooking gas cylinder could have led to the fire. The convent had three gas cylinders. One was in use, the priest said.
The fire reduced the entire building into ashes. The loss was estimated at more than 800,000 rupees.
Fire brigade could not be contacted due to the remoteness of the village. Laii village is 52 kilometres northeast of the district headquarters.