Nagpur: As the embers cooled in Dhamangaon, the scale of loss became brutally clear — not just homes, but lifetimes of savings and labour wiped out in minutes, leaving villagers on the brink ahead of the sowing season.“We have nothing left except the clothes we are wearing. All our yield, savings, documents, ration, and food have been gutted. We cannot rebuild. It would have been better if we had died in the fire,” said Prafulla Chaudhari, one of the affected farmers.Residents now face an uncertain future. The devastation has left the village in shock, with many still struggling to process the loss. With the sowing season approaching, the loss of seeds and stored produce has deepened the crisis.“Just last month, we stocked our yearly ration. We had 50 sacks of chana from our harvest and soybean seeds ready for the coming season. Everything is gone,” Chaudhari said. “Our 5.25 tola gold, savings, even our children’s documents — nothing remains. How do we start again?”On Sunday, residents moved between the charred remains of their homes and the gram panchayat office, seeking clarity on relief and rehabilitation. Despite visits by officials and public representatives, many said they were still waiting for concrete assurances.Affected farmers have demanded immediate government assistance, saying they lack the means to rebuild homes or resume agricultural work. “I built this house brick by brick over the years… now it’s all ashes. From next month, the sowing season begins — should we rebuild our home or prepare for farming?” asked farmer Vilas Tayde.Villagers said the fire spread rapidly, leaving little time to salvage belongings. In the chaos, several residents risked their lives entering burning homes to remove LPG cylinders, averting further explosions, while others untied livestock and moved them to safety. Many animals were rescued, but some suffered burn injuries, and several remain unaccounted for.Rajni Kokate, who narrowly escaped, said she was cooking when she heard screams. “When I stepped out, I saw multiple houses on fire. We managed to remove the gas cylinder and our two-wheeler, but could not save anything else,” she said.
