Kulgam, Dec 11: Three houses were gutted in a fire incident , rendering four families homeless in Chak-e-Nagam village of Damhal-Hanjipora in Kulgam district late Tuesday evening.
Located in a remote area of the district, the village witnessed fire that completely destroyed three residential houses.
An official said that fire broke out in the houses of Mohammad Iqbal Koli, Shabir Ahmad Koli, Mukhtar Ahmad Koli, and Gull Mohammad, where four families were residing. The fire also engulfed three cowsheds belonging to these individuals. He said that fortunately, no loss of life was reported, and the fire was eventually brought under control.
Mohammad Iqbal, a local resident, said that there were four families living in the destroyed structures with around 20-25 people. They said all their savings and belongings were reduced to ashes and not even a needle could be salvaged.
“When we arrived, the houses had been completely destroyed in just 20 minutes. The fire service arrived and managed to save the rest of the village, but these four families lost everything,” he said.
Abdul Rashid Kohli, a former village head, said that the fire broke out around 8 PM, leaving four families homeless. He said that everything was burnt to the ground.
“I sincerely thank the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP), Station House Officer (SHO) and fire service for their swift response. However, these families are now living under the open sky with no shelter or clothing. They need immediate and continued support,” he said.
Bashir-ul-Hassan, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Noorabad, said that three houses housing four families, along with their cowsheds, were completely destroyed in the fire.
“On the directions of the Deputy Commissioner, we provided immediate relief, including blankets, food kits, and other essentials. Besides, through the Red Cross we are supporting the affected families. We are committed to ensuring they receive all possible help,” SDM Noorabad said.
He said that an Anganwadi center was also located in one of the houses destroyed in the fire. He said that efforts are being made to relocate the families and center to a government building to avoid further inconvenience during the winter. He urged people to exercise caution with fire hazards, especially during the dry season, to prevent such incidents.
