Srinagar, March 1: A major fire broke out during the intervening night in the Kralyar area of Rainawari near VB College in Srinagar, causing extensive damage to three residential-cum-commercial structures before being brought under control after a prolonged operation.
Officials said a running fire call was received at the State Fire Control Room, Batamaloo, following which Fire Station Rainawari immediately rushed to the scene. Given the highly congested nature of the locality, reinforcements were mobilised from Fire Stations Babdemb, Headquarters, Gowkadal, Syed Hameed Pora, Maharaj Gunj, Nowshahra and Hazratbal.
On arrival, firefighters found two three-storey residential-cum-commercial buildings, annexed to each other in an L-shaped pattern, engulfed in flames, along with a single-storey structure housing a shop. A scooty bearing registration number JK01BB 8501 was also damaged in the blaze.
An intensive firefighting operation was launched under challenging conditions. After several hours of sustained efforts, the flames were brought under control, preventing further spread to adjoining structures in the densely populated area.
Damage assessment revealed that in the first three-storey residential-cum-commercial building, the roofing, first and second floors were severely damaged. A steel trunk shop and an electric shop operating within the premises suffered significant losses.
In the second three-storey structure, the roofing and second floor were severely damaged, while the lower floors sustained indirect damage due to water used during firefighting operations. A grocery shop and vegetable outlets functioning in the building reported water-related losses.
The third structure, a single-storey building housing a bread-making shop, was also severely damaged.
The operation was carried out under the overall supervision of ADGP Fire and Emergency Services Alok Kumar, with on-ground supervision by Deputy Director F&ES Command Srinagar Dr Mir Aqib Hussain and Mobilising Officer Aijaz Ahmad Shah.
Officials said the cause of the fire has not yet been ascertained and is under investigation. No casualties were reported in the incident. [KNT]
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