Srinagar, July 14: As many as 10 families were rendered homeless after a massive fire damaged eight houses and several cow sheds, while numerous cattle were charred to death in a devastating fire incident in Yangerhar village of Rajawar, Handwara in North Kashmir on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.
Residents reported that the fire quickly engulfed the residential area. A massive rescue operation was launched involving the army, police, locals, and the fire and emergency department. Despite their efforts, the fire consumed eight houses, several cow sheds, and claimed the lives of around a dozen animals.
Residents have accused the administration of negligence, pointing out the absence of a fire station in the area. They claimed that several fire incidents have occurred in the past, with timely information given to the authorities. However, the response often involved calling nearby stations for assistance.
A senior fire and emergency officer told Rising Kashmir that controlling the fire was challenging due to the presence of wooden houses and congested road stretches surrounded by trees. He noted that these factors contributed to the significant damage in the area. The officer said that the cause of the fire is being ascertained, adding that no one was hurt in the incident.
The affected families are now seeking compensation for their rehabilitation, and locals are demanding the establishment of a fire station in the locality to prevent future incidents.
The people of the locality have sought compensation for the affected families, stating they are very poor and have lost everything in the blaze. A senior resident of the area indicated that the majority of the families were left only with what they were wearing at the time of the fire incident.
They have also expressed strong resentment against the authorities, stating that they were informed time and again to set up a fire station in the area. Still, no attention was paid, resulting in property worth lakhs being damaged every year in fire-related incidents.
