SRINAGAR — A mosque engulfed in flames in Babdem Shamswari area of central Kashmir's Srinagar district on Friday.
An official quoted by a local news agency said that the fire damaged a major section of the mosque while fire tenders were also pressed into service to douse the flames.
He said that fire tenders are on the job and efforts are on to douse off the flames.
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SRINAGAR — A massive fire broke out in a hotel in the southern Kashmir's Anantnag district on Wednesday morning.
Reports from a local news agency said that a fire broke out in Shishang Hotel in the world-famous health resort of Pahalgam this morning.
It added that a team of fire tenders, police, and locals are on the job to douse the flames and bring the fire under control.
A police officer also confirmed the fire incident and said that a team is working to put the fire under control, but the cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
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SRINAGAR — A non-local person was charred to death as a massive overnight blaze ravaged through a shopping complex and a hotel at Batergam in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.
Reliable sources told the news agency GNS that a shopping complex comprising several shops and a hotel were caught in a massive blaze during the intervening Monday and Tuesday night.
"In the incident, a tailor from Uttar Pradesh, identified as Firoz Ahmed, was stuck inside and by the time the fire was controlled, the person was tragically charred to death," the sources said.
Confirming the death of the non-local in the incident, a police official said that a team has already been on the spot to collect necessary details regarding the incident.
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BARAMULLA — A devastating fire erupted at a hotel in the renowned tourist destination of Gulmarg, located in northern Kashmir's Baramulla district, on Wednesday morning, prompting swift emergency response efforts.
According to reports received here, the fire engulfed the Pine Palace Platinum hotel in Gulmarg, casting a pall over the popular tourist spot.
Emergency services, including fire tenders, rushed to the scene to contain the blaze, which posed a significant threat to the hotel and surrounding structures.
A police officer quoted by a local news agency stated that efforts to extinguish the fire are underway. The cause of the fire remains unknown at present, with authorities actively investigating the incident.
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BARAMULLA — A residential fire in Kreeri, located in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, resulted in partial damage to a house late last night.
According to an official quoted by a local news agency, flames erupted within the residence of Manzoor Ahmad Ahanger, son of Mohammad Akbar of Durhama Wagoora. Prompt response from the Baramulla Police and Fire & Emergency Services contained the fire, although the house sustained partial damage.
In an unfortunate turn, a fire service vehicle en route to the scene encountered an accident on the Wagergam road at night. The vehicle overturned, though fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported, affirmed the official.
Authorities have initiated investigations into both incidents, as confirmed by local law enforcement.
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SRINAGAR — Youth affected by the alleged Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) recruitment scam in 2020 on Friday demanded the release of an inquiry committee’s report.
As per the news agency CNS, the aggrieved youth in a press conference said that a month was given for the release of the report after the instituting of an inquiry on December 12, 2022 into the F&ES recruitment scam.
“We have been struggling for more than three years for the deliverance of justice. Failure to release the report indicates a big nexus behind the recruitment scam because over one year has passed since the instituting of a three-member inquiry committee,” they said.
They said that the delay of the report into the recruitment scam has been astonishing for them as 14 months have passed since the setting up of the inquiry committee.
The F&ES aspirants also pinned their hope on the existing political dispensation to give them closure by releasing the report.
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RAMSOO — A devastating fire engulfed a home in the Ramsoo area of the Jammu region on Sunday night, resulting in the tragic deaths of three sisters, according to reliable sources.
The victims, identified as Sanya Latife (9), Saika Banoo (15), and Bisma Banu (18), were the daughters of Abdul Latief Lone, son of Ghulam Rasool Lone of Taj Nihaal, as reported by a local news agency.
The sisters were asleep when the fire erupted, and despite efforts by the fire service department, police, and locals to douse the flames, the house could not be saved, sources added.
A police officer confirmed that an investigation into the incident has been initiated, with a case registered.
The entire area is in mourning over the loss of these young girls in this unfortunate tragedy.
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PULWAMA — In an unfortunate incident, a residential house in the Chewa Kalan area of South Kashmir's Pulwama district suffered extensive damage in a fire during the intervening night.
The affected residence belonged to Mohammad Ayoub Wagay, son of Abdul Rahman Wagay, and was located in Chewa Kalan Pulwama. According to the sources, the fire broke out overnight, prompting a swift response from local authorities and residents.
Efforts to contain the fire were successfully executed with the assistance of fire tenders and the immediate involvement of locals. However, despite concerted efforts, the house sustained significant damage.
An investigation has been initiated to determine the cause of the fire and gather more details about the incident. Authorities are working diligently to ascertain the factors that led to the unfortunate event in Chewa Kalan.
The affected family is expected to receive support and assistance from local authorities as they cope with the aftermath of the incident.
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BARAMULLA — A 28-year-youth was charred to death in a devastating fire incident that damaged two residential houses completely in Khambyar Pattan village of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Police sources told the news agency KNT that a fire broke out in the house of Muhammad Ramzan Dar. The fire, which broke out at 2:00 am on Monday during pre-dawn hours, spread to another house of Muhammad Asadullah. Both the houses were completely damaged in the incident.
Fire Service Pattan, policemen from Palhalan Police Post and locals tried hard to douse the flames, however, both houses suffered extensive damage.
While clearing the debris, police and locals recovered the charred body of the son of Muhammad Ramzan identified as Aadil Ahmed Dar.
A police official said that a case has been registered in this regard. He added that prima facie it seems that a short circuit was the cause of the fire that claimed a precious human life and damaged the property worth crores.
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SRINAGAR — A fire incident occurred in the Pakherpora area of Budgam on Sunday, marking the second such incident in the area within a week. The fire, reported around noon, resulted in substantial damage to the houses belonging to Mukhtar Ahmad Sheikh and Ghulam Mohammad Magray.
Local residents, grappling with the aftermath, have urgently appealed to the district authorities in Budgam to extend immediate assistance to the affected families.
This incident follows another separate fire mishap earlier in the day in Maharaj Bazar area of central Kashmir's Srinagar district, where at least two residential houses were damaged.
An official statement confirmed that a fire broke out in Maharaj Bazar Srinagar during the night. Upon receiving the information, emergency response teams from the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department, with the assistance of local police and residents, were swiftly dispatched to the site to combat the flames.
After persistent efforts, the fire was successfully brought under control. The official report indicated that at least two residential houses suffered partial damage. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
The recurrence of fire incidents in the region has heightened concerns among local residents, prompting appeals for increased vigilance and preventive measures.
Authorities are urged to conduct thorough investigations into the causes of these incidents and to provide necessary support to the affected families in both Budgam and Srinagar districts.
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PULWAMA — A swift response from the Fire and Emergency Services Department averted a potential disaster as a fire raged through the grass fields in the Dangarpora area of Pulwama district on Wednesday. The incident marked the 14th fire in Kashmir in the last 10 days, with experts attributing the surge to an ongoing dry spell in the valley.
The fire, which was first noticed by a local car showroom owner near the spot, quickly engulfed the grassy expanse, prompting a call to emergency services. The Fire and Emergency Services Department dispatched a team to the scene, and their prompt action helped contain the flames and prevent any loss of life or major property damage.
The dry spell in the region has heightened the risk of wildfires, as parched vegetation becomes susceptible to ignition. Experts are urging residents to exercise caution and report any signs of fire immediately to prevent the escalation of such incidents.
The 14 fire incidents in the past 10 days have put a strain on the resources of the firefighting teams, emphasizing the need for heightened vigilance during this period of increased fire risk. Local authorities are also exploring measures to mitigate the impact of the dry spell, including public awareness campaigns and stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations.
While the fires have been successfully contained thus far, concerns linger over the potential for more outbreaks given the persistent dry conditions in the valley. Authorities are advising residents to adopt fire-safe practices and cooperate with emergency services to ensure a swift and effective response to any future incidents.
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BUDGAM — In a tragic turn of events, a devastating fire wreaked havoc in Pakherpora village of central Kashmir's Budgam district on Monday, leaving three residential houses and two cow sheds completely destroyed. This marks the 13th fire incident reported in the Kashmir region over the past 10 days, painting a grim picture of the escalating crisis.
Local authorities responded promptly to the emergency, deploying firefighting teams to contain the inferno and prevent further damage. Despite their efforts, the intensity of the blaze overwhelmed their capabilities, resulting in the complete destruction of the affected structures.
Experts attribute the surge in fire incidents in Kashmir to a prolonged dry spell that has gripped the valley. The lack of precipitation and moisture in the air has created an environment conducive to rapid fire spread, turning seemingly routine incidents into major disasters.
The victims of the Pakherpora fire are now grappling with the aftermath, facing the daunting task of rebuilding their lives from the ashes. Local relief efforts are underway, with authorities providing immediate assistance to those affected and coordinating with disaster response agencies to ensure a comprehensive recovery process.
As Kashmir battles this unprecedented wave of fire incidents, residents and officials alike are calling for heightened vigilance, public awareness campaigns, and collaborative efforts to mitigate the impact of future disasters in the region.
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SHOPIAN — An early morning fire incident in the Ramnagri area of south Kashmir's Shopian district resulted in partial damage to a residential house.
According to an unnamed official's statement quoted by a local news agency, the fire erupted at approximately 3:00 am in the residence of Zaffar Hussain Khan, son of Ab Kabir Khan, located in Astaan Mohalla, Ramnagri.
Efforts from the Police Party Saidapora, Fire & Emergency Services, and local residents successfully controlled the fire. However, the blaze led to extensive damage to the house's roof.
Fortunately, no injuries or loss of life were reported during the incident. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, as per the official statement.
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SRINAGAR — A fire incident early on Saturday morning resulted in significant damage to at least three residential houses in Solina, Srinagar.
According to an official from the F&ES (Fire and Emergency Services) Department, the fire outbreak occurred around 4:30 AM in Solina, prompting an immediate response from firefighting personnel and equipment to contain the blaze.
"Our teams, in collaboration with civilians, worked persistently to bring the fire under control," stated the F&ES Department official.
The intense efforts eventually succeeded in containing the fire; however, the incident caused varying degrees of damage to three residential properties in the area, both directly and indirectly affected by the flames.
No casualties were reported, but the incident caused distress and material loss to the affected families.
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SRINAGAR — A mosque was partially damaged in an overnight blaze in Sarafkadal area in Srinagar, officials said on Tuesday morning.
Officials said that a fire broke out in a four-storey mosque at around 1:30 AM, adding that soon afterwards, the F&ES Department reached the site with men and machinery and put out the flames.
The mosque, the officials said, received partial damage in the incident.
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SRINAGAR — Several structures were damaged in a fire incident in north Kashmir's Bandipora district on Monday.
A police officer, without naming himself, said that a fire broke out at Ganaie Mohalla in Kaloosa Bandipora and it engulfed several structures in no time. "Soon after the incident, fire tenders and police rushed to the spot and doused off the flames," he said.
He said that in the incident residential structures belonging to Ghulam Mohammad son of Ghulam Ahmad Ganaie; Manzoor Ahmad son of Ghulam Ahmad Ganaie; Manzoor Iqbal son of Ghulam Rasool Ganaie; Akhter Hussain son of Mohammad Akbar Ganaie; Akbar son of Mohammad Ramzan Ganaie were damaged.
Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident and started an investigation in this connection.
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SRINAGAR — At least 13 “inter-connected” houses and around ten shops were gutted in a massive midnight fire, augmented by the blast of “10 gas (LPG) cylinders”, in Dangarpora area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, officials said on Friday.
Leading firefighter of the concerned Fire and Emergency Services Department said that at least 200 houses were saved by the “timely” action.
“At 2:56 AM, we received information about the fire. Since the Fire Service Station is just half a kilometer from the area, we rushed a number of fire tenders immediately,” the leading firefighter told the news agency GNS, adding, “By the time we reached, the fire had spread extensively as at least 10 LPG gas cylinders had exploded as a result of which there was extensive damage.”
He said that an adequate number of fire tenders and men were rushed to the area. “Since there was adequate availability of water and firefighters along with locals put their best effort, we were able to prevent the fire from spreading further.”
He said at least 200 houses were saved in the very densely populated area of the south Kashmir district.
Sources told GNS that 13 houses suffered damages and most of them have been completely gutted along with at least 10 shops. A firefighter was also injured in the operation and has been admitted to Government Medical College Anantnag.
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SRINAGAR — A Darul Uloom (Islamic seminary) and two residential houses were damaged in a massive fire in Khanyar area of Srinagar on Thursday.
A marriage hall and two more houses in the vicinity also suffered slight damage in the fire, the cause of which is being investigated, officials were quoted as having said by news agency GNS.
They said that fire erupted in the congested locality in the early morning and caused damage to two houses beside the seminary.
Officials of the Fire and Emergency department said that timely intervention prevented the fire from spreading to more houses. “Because of the narrow lanes, the normal fire engine could be taken to the spot and the department took it in a small load carrier,” the officials said.
With the help of locals and other allied agencies, they said, the fire was contained.
They said that there was no report regarding injuries to anyone in the fire incident. Asked about the cause of the fire, they said, the same is being investigated by the police.
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SRINAGAR — The J&K administration on Saturday ordered a fire safety audit of all the government buildings “immediately”.
“It is hereby ordered that Director General, Fire and Emergency Service shall carry out a fire safety audit of all government buildings in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir immediately,” reads a government order, a copy of which lies with GNS.
“All the concerned Administrative Secretaries shall take immediate corrective action in light of the Fire Safety Audit Reports so furnished to them for preventing the occurrence of fire incidents in all buildings of their Departments,” the order added.
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SRINAGAR — Offices of Superintendent of Police East Zone and SDPO Kothibagh were gutted in an overnight blaze in city centre Lal Chowk in Srinagar.
An official told news agency Kashmir Dot Com that the fire broke out in the first floor of the building, housing SP East Zone office and SDPO Kothibagh office, which engulfed the floor completely and inflicted minor damage to the Kothibagh Police Station’s office as well.
In the incident, one firefighter identified as Ansar Ahmad Malla was injured while dousing the flames. He was immediately referred to SMHS Hospital for treatment, where his condition is said to be ‘stable’.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Traffic Police headquarters was partially damaged in a blaze, which broke out in the wee hours.
The fire damaged the top floor of the headquarters with all the high-end equipment in the Traffic Control room gutted.
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