By: Jameela Akhter
Baramulla, Sep 22: In a devastating incident of fire, three residential houses were gutted and property worth lakhs of rupees lost in Kitchma village of Sheeri Narvaw in north Kashmir’s Baramulla, Friday.
The incident happened shortly after morning prayers when residents spotted flames erupting from the second story of a house belonging to Ghulam Ahmad Bhat, son of Wali Mohammad Bhat of Kitchama. Tragically, Bhat’s daughter was to get married in the coming week, and the joyous atmosphere turned into mourning as the fire destroyed everything the family had, including things accumulated for the wedding.
Local residents immediately rushed in to rescue the family, and later local police, the Army, and the CRPF personnel also arrived at the scene to assist in dousing the flames. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, the fire continued to rage and spread to nearby houses owned by Abdul Ahad Shiekh, son of Abdul Rehman Sheikh, and Altaf Husain Parray, son of Mohmmad Ramzan Parray, damaging them too.
The affected families have suffered extensive damage, losing almost all of their belongings.
People of the area alleged that nobody from the administration, barring police, reached the spot to take stock of the situation and fire victims.
They said as there is no fire station or fire tender available in the entire Narvaw area, in case of fire, the fire tenders have to come from Baramulla town which always reaches late. Today also by the time a fire engine reached the area, the houses were damaged completely.
