A devastating fire that broke out on the night of October 26, 2025, in the bustling Rangat Bazaar has left dozens of traders and shopkeepers in ruins, destroying commercial establishments and crippling the local economy. The blaze, which spread rapidly through the market area, consumed entire rows of shops, reducing years of hard work and livelihoods to ashes. The incident has caused severe economic distress to the business community, many of whom have lost their inventories, records, and structures.
In the aftermath, an urgent appeal has been made to the Lieutenant Governor’s Relief Fund for immediate financial assistance and rehabilitation measures. Local traders and business representatives have called for a special relief package to be sanctioned to provide quick support to affected business owners and their employees. The appeal requests the administration to arrange temporary commercial spaces and immediate financial assistance to help traders meet essential needs and restart operations at the earliest.
A detailed on-ground assessment of damages has been sought to ensure fair compensation for lost inventory and structural damage. Considering that many traders lost all their records and documents in the blaze, the appeal further calls for simplified procedures for reissuing licenses, permits, and other necessary business papers. The traders have also requested temporary tax relief and waiver of utility charges until they can recover their footing.
The fire has also reignited concerns about inadequate fire safety measures in market areas across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The appeal highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive fire safety audit across all major commercial zones and recommends allocating part of the relief package to improve firefighting infrastructure. Business representatives believe that preventive steps and better preparedness could avert such large-scale losses in the future.
As the Rangat Bazaar community struggles to recover from the devastation, local traders have expressed confidence that the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, under the guidance of the Honourable Lieutenant Governor, will take prompt and effective action. They have urged the government to activate both the LG Relief Fund and the Disaster Management Fund to deliver timely relief and initiate market rehabilitation.
The traders have emphasized that the fire has wiped out not just their livelihoods but also their future plans, making it essential for the administration to intervene with compassion and urgency. They hope that swift financial aid, simplified administrative procedures, and a stronger focus on fire safety reforms will help restore the economic lifeline of Rangat Bazaar and ensure such tragedies are prevented in the future.
