Baramulla: A double-storey residential house and a cowshed was gutted and property worth lakhs of rupees reduced to ashes after fire broke out in Tantary Mohalla Boniyar in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.
Witnesses said that fire engulfed the double-storey joint residential house of Abdul Ahad Tantray and Tariq Ahmad Tantary late last night in which the house was completely destroyed and goods worth lakhs of rupees were turned to ashes.
“Fire broke out from the terrace of our joint residential house which spread to the entire house in a jiffy causing huge damage to it. We tried to extinguish the fire but it went out of control, reducing the entire house and goods worth lakhs of rupees to ashes besides the fire spread to nearby cowshed,” said Abdul Ahad Tantray, house owner.
Soon after the fire broke out, locals were joined by police and fire service men to douse the flames. “Army’s 25 Punjab, Fire tenders of CISF and Fire and Emergency Department jointly brought the fire under control and prevented it from spreading to adjoining houses,” locals said.
According to initial reports, the cause of fire seems to be short circuit, however further investigations has been taken up.
Meanwhile, DC Baramulla announced a cash relief of Rs 30,000 for the two affected families and directed Revenue officials to prepare the records under Rules for Ex-gratia Relief.
The relief, besides some essential commodities, include blankets, tents and other relief items of daily use.
Meanwhile, five persons were injured after massive fire broke out in haystack in Sultan Dhaki Uri.
The injured were identified as Sajid Ahmad son of Abdul Razak Sheik, Abdul Rasheed son of Abdul Kareem Turk, Roshi Begum wife of Abdul Kareem, Wahid Ahmad son of Abdul Rasheed and Mafad Ahmad son of Younis Ahmad Mir.
“All the injured were shifted to SDH Uri for the treatment wherefrom Sajad Ahmad who had sustained serious burn injuries was referred to GMC Baramulla,” said an official.
Soon after the incident, police, army and volunteers rushed to the spot to douse the fire.
