Guwahati, July 25 -- Around 20 to 25 shops were reduced to ashes after a fire swept through Joykrishnapur Market in Assam's Hailakandi district late on Friday night, with the loss estimated to run into several lakh rupees.

Officials and eyewitnesses said the fire was first noticed in a shop at about 1 am. Within a short time, the flames spread from one establishment to another, damaging a large section of the market.

After announcements were made through the mosque's public address system, local residents gathered at the market and tried to stop the fire from spreading.

Their efforts, however, proved unsuccessful before Fire and Emergency Services personnel arrived and brought the blaze under control.

Residents alleged that the fire b...