Massive fire breaks out at Sonamarg’s main market

Property worth crores destroyed, locals demand fire station
Ganderbal, Feb 08: A devastating fire broke out in the main market of Sonamarg late Saturday evening, causing extensive damage to property reportedly worth crores. The fire, which erupted in a hotel-cum-restaurant, quickly spread to nearby shops and other establishments.
Eyewitnesses reported that the blaze engulfed the market within minutes, destroying several businesses that operate daily in this popular tourist destination. Fortunately, no loss of human life or injuries has been reported.
Shopkeepers and residents have long demanded a permanent fire station in Sonamarg, but their pleas have gone unheard for over a decade. The absence of immediate firefighting infrastructure, they argue, has worsened the impact of such incidents.
“If there was a fire station here, the flames could have been controlled immediately,” said a local shopkeeper.
Shabir Ahmad Lone, president of Beopar Mandal Association Sonamarg, expressed his frustration, stating that repeated requests to the administration for a fire station have been ignored for the past two decades. “This is not the first time fire has ravaged Sonamarg’s main market. Similar incidents occurred in 2008 and 2012. Yet, no preventive measures have been taken,” he said.
Lone urged the government to take urgent action by setting up a permanent fire station in Sonamarg and providing immediate relief to affected traders to help them recover from their losses.
According to locals the value of the damaged property was worth crores.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
Meanwhile Fire tenders from Ganderbal, Kangan, and Gund, along with personnel from the SDRF, Army, Tourist Police, and local volunteers along with other Senior Police officials worked tirelessly to douse the flames and prevent further damage. The Tehsil administration of Gund and other civil officials also reached the spot to assess the situation.