12 shops gutted in Poonch fire; locals allege delayed firefighting response
A major fire gutted 13 shops in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district early Sunday, causing property damage worth crores of rupees, officials told news agency
A major fire gutted 13 shops in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district early Sunday, causing property damage worth crores of rupees, officials told news agency PTI. No casualties were reported in the incident. The fire broke out around 5 am in the central market of Bufliaz village along the Mughal Road. Most of the affected shops were constructed with wood and tin, making them vulnerable to the rapidly spreading flames. Read Full Story Locals, assisted by Army and CRPF personnel, launched firefighting efforts immediately after the blaze erupted.
A team from the Fire and Emergency Services Department later joined the operation. An official from the Fire and Emergency Services Department said firefighters brought the blaze under control within 30 minutes, helping restrict further damage. Preliminary investigations suggested that a short circuit in one of the shops triggered the fire, which quickly spread to nearby establishments. Locals expressed strong resentment over what they described as the civil administration's inadequate response to the incident. A fire survivor said the absence of a fire station in the area worsened the situation, alleging that a fire tender from Surankote arrived more than an hour after the blaze began.
The survivor thanked Army and CRPF personnel for their prompt response, saying their efforts helped save at least four shops from being engulfed by the flames. The survivor also alleged that no representative of the civil administration visited the site to assess the losses or offer assistance. Affected traders and residents claimed that delays in firefighting efforts allowed the blaze to spread rapidly, causing extensive damage to shops and property. They demanded the establishment of a permanent fire station in the area, arguing that the lack of emergency infrastructure has repeatedly put lives and property at risk.
The residents also urged the administration to conduct a proper assessment of the losses and provide financial assistance to help affected families and shopkeepers rebuild their livelihoods. Ends With PTI inputs.
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