Three residential houses were damaged in a fire incident in Poniwah, Kulgam, causing significant damage to two houses and partial damage to another, officials said.
An official said that the fire broke out around 3:30 a.m last night. He said that Fire and Emergency Services personnel immediately rushed to the spot to douse the flames.
He added that the fire was massive, prompting the deployment of additional reinforcements. The Fire & Emergency Services unit in Yaripora was also alerted to assist at the scene.
“The damaged houses belong to Ghulam Mohiuddin Bhat, Mohammad Shaban Bhat, and Bashir Ahmad Bhat,” the official said.
Abdul Rashid, a local, said the fire spread rapidly, causing significant damage to the structures. He added that one family member was injured in the incident while inside the house when the fire engulfed it.
“The family has lost all their belongings. The government should provide them immediate relief and ensure their houses are rebuilt, especially with the harsh winter season in Kashmir about to begin,” he said.
An official added that Deputy Commissioner Kulgam, Athar Aamir Khan, visited the fire-affected families and provided immediate relief.
Tehsildar Kulgam, Bilal Ahmad, confirmed that the relief measures included blankets, food kits, and kitchen sets, and SDRF assistance was also sanctioned on the spot to support the affected families.
