Drass, Jan 23: A devastating fire incident that took place Wednesday left three families homeless in the Matayan area of Drass, Kargil district of the Ladakh Union Territory.
The blaze consumed a single-story residential house belonging to Habibullah Lone, son of Muhammad Lone, reducing it to ashes. Three families were putting up in the house. An official said the fire, which broke out at around 5:30 am, destroyed all belongings, including ration, fodder and bedding.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Drass, Vishal Atri, however, said that fortunately, no loss of life was reported in the incident even as a house was damaged in the incident. “We have provided relief to all three families individually,” he said.
The fire was brought under control through the combined efforts of local residents, police personnel from Menamarg and Drass police stations besides the staff and machinery of the beacon authorities. An army fire service vehicle also arrived at the site after the fire was contained. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire was caused by a short circuit.
Following the incident, the affected families were relocated to another house and immediate relief was provided by the administration. SDM Drass personally visited the site to assess the damage and oversee the relief measures. He also met the affected families.
The residents of Matayan, a village known for facing harsh winters, have not migrated from the area in the past many years due to the continuous efforts of the administration to keep the Matayan-Pandrass road open despite heavy snowfall, the officials said.
