Srinagar, April 26: Two houses and six shops were gutted in fire due to short circuit in the Qalamabad area of Mawer in Handwara on Wednesday, officials said.
They said a major fire broke out in a double-story residential house near Jamia Masjid at 12:11 p.m. and quickly spread to nearby structures, resulting in the damage of two double-story houses and six shops.
Eye witnesses told Rising Kashmir, “ Property worth lakhs of rupees was gutted into ashes in the blaze. Soon after the flames erupted, locals raised a hue and cry and swung into action to douse the flames. These locals were immediately joined by police, the 30RR army, and fire and emergency personnel.”
After the hectic efforts, the massive fire was brought under control by the joint team of police, army, fire and emergency services. The SP Handwara, Sheema Nabi Qasba, immediately reached the spot to guide the officials present there on how to control the flames.
Assistant Director Fire and Emergency Kupwara, Abdul Khaliq Wani, confirmed the fire incident to Rising Kashmir and said that two double-story houses and six shops were gutted in the blaze.
He said the cause of the fire was an inverter short circuit. Wani, however, informed me that after hectic efforts, the fire was brought under control, adding that no one was hurt in the incident.
He identified the house owners and shop owners as Gh. Ahmad Najar and Mohd Muzafar Najar, Mohd Ashraf Najar, Tariq Ahmad Najar, Roshan Din Dar, and Ab Rashid Wani.
The local DDC member, Khurshid Ahmad Dar, also visited the affected families and assured them that he would take the issues to the district administration. He also urged the administration to undertake rehabilitation. The affected people have urged the administration to rehabilitate them as they have lost everything in the blaze.
