Massive fire guts Madrassa, two homes in Bemina

Srinagar, Apr 18: A massive fire broke out in Gousia Colony, Bemina, on Friday evening, causing extensive damage to Madrassa Sabeel-un-Huda and two adjoining residential houses. The blaze also left four firefighters injured during the firefighting operation.
The fire started around 7:20 PM, causing panic through the locality as flames quickly engulfed the madrassa before spreading to nearby residential structures.
According to an official, teams from Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) reached the spot soon after receiving an alert from residents and launched a firefighting operation. Several fire tenders were rushed to the area, with locals also stepping in to help prevent the flames from spreading further.
“We received the alert from the locals and immediately dispatched teams to the spot,” said Mir Aqib Hussain, Assistant Director at F&ES. “The flames started in the madrassa and then spread to adjacent houses, which made the operation extremely challenging.”
During the operation, four firefighters—including a Divisional Fire Officer—were injured. “The fire was intense, and unfortunately, four of our personnel, including the DFO, sustained injuries while trying to bring it under control,” Hussain said. “They were shifted to a nearby hospital for treatment. Fortunately, there were no civilian injuries or fatalities.”
The exact cause of the fire remains unknown, and an investigation has been launched to determine what triggered the blaze. “We are working to determine the cause of the fire, and an investigation is ongoing,” the official added.