Srinagar: A destructive fire damaged a commercial unit and several residential houses in the Kanlibagh area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Sunday late afternoon.
An official said that the fire damaged a wood mill and at least five residential houses, reducing them to ashes.
The incident took place around 10 pm. Locals, police and the army rushed to the spot and tried to douse off the flames but couldn’t succeed. The flames were ferocious and spread to nearby residential houses in minutes.
Residents and security personnel were later joined by the Fire & Emergency Services Department to combat the blaze.
The official said the assessment of losses is ongoing, and the exact extent of the damage cannot be determined at this moment.
While no lives were lost in the incident, there was substantial property damage, and several families have been rendered homeless, he said, adding that the cause of the fire is also under investigation.
Locals alleged a delayed response from the fire services department, saying timely intervention could have controlled the spread of the fire. They, however, praised the prompt assistance from local police and an army unit and acknowledged their vital role in containing the flames.
Refuting the allegations, officials from the Fire & Emergency Department said they did their best to put off the flames. “The allegations are baseless,” an official said, adding that eight fire tenders were promptly deployed and all necessary measures were taken to control the fire.
Owners of now-damaged commercial units have expressed their distress, saying the blaze has shattered their dreams.
Both locals and fire victims have appealed to the government for compensation to alleviate their hardships.
District administration officials and socio-political activists were present at the site to offer condolences to the affected people.
An official from the civil administration assured the fire-affected families of compensation
