Several shops gutted in Kokernag fire incident

Anantnag, Nov 27: Four shops were gutted in a fire incident at Gawran village in the Kokernag subdivision during the night hours, causing significant damage to the shopping complex, officials said.
According to an official from the Fire and Emergency Department, the blaze involved a double-storey and wooden structure. The fire broke out around 6:27 PM on November 26, prompting an immediate response from fire services and local residents.
“The fire had engulfed a shopping complex housing nine shops, including medical stores, grocery shops, and a bakery,” the official said.
Efforts by fire professionals and local volunteers helped bring the blaze under control, though the damage was extensive. “The wooden first floor, used as storage for medicines, groceries, flour, and firewood, was severely damaged, while the contents of the ground-floor shops suffered partial damage,” the official added.
Preliminary investigations suggest the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit.
Shabir Ahmad Wani, a shop owner, said his medical shop and godown, located in the gutted complex, were completely destroyed in the fire. He added that his father’s bread shop and its godown, also in the complex, were similarly reduced to ashes.
“The Fire and Emergency Department responded promptly, but the road to Gawran isn’t good which took time on their arrival. Besides, the wooden structure fueled the fire, causing severe damage. We now appeal to the authorities to visit the site and provide us with some assistance,” Wani said.