The Ba Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the move by police to step up operations around the country however Secretary, Anil Ameen says they cannot take a generalized view regarding fire incidents in Ba and Raiwai last night.
Eight shops were destroyed in the fire in the Ba Town Council’s Central Arcade.
Ameen says this tragedy has struck when businesses and their staff have been struggling due to COVID-19.
Six shops were being rented by businesses while two were vacant.
The six businesses include an electrical shop, a salon, a second-hand clothing shop, two fish shops and a restaurant.
Eight spaces where women used to sell their handicraft have also been destroyed.
Firefighters managed to save the museum and civic auditorium in the arcade.
