Aizawl, Feb 1:
An entire typical Mizo village on the outskirts of Ailawng village near here which is being developed as ‘Film City’ by the Mizoram government was gutted by fire Sunday night, police said.
Around Rs 20 lakhs have been spent to reconstruct the ancient Mizo village at the site which is being developed as tourist spot as well as ‘Film City’ by the State Information & Public Relations department and Mizoram Film Forum.
An FIR has been submitted to Kulikawn police station In Aizawl by Mizoram Film Forum president Lalawmpuia Khiangte today.
The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
Ailawng village council president Lalthlamuana said a few boys were seen visiting the typical village on Sunday and smoking cigarettes there.
“It is not known whether their cigarettes butt ignited dry leaves and resulted in a massive fire,” he said.
The I&PR department has declared Ailawng village as Film City and constructed a typical Mizo village on the outskirts to be used in historical films as well as tourists’ attraction.
The model village consists of 16 Mizo traditional houses, including chieftain’s house and bachelors’ dormitory known as ‘Zawlbuk,’ made of wood, bamboo and thatch.
Reconstruction of the village involved hard work and lots of money. It has been completed and soon to be officially inaugurated. It is very sad that all our hard work and money have been reduced to ashes,” said I&PR director Lallianpuii .
(Source: Newslink Vol-XXIII No. 20 , Aizawl February 2, Tuesday 2021)