MAJID KAPRA
Srinagar, Jan 07: Kashmir valley has recorded 41 fire incidents, with Srinagar having the highest number at nine during the first week of the current year, officials said on Tuesday.
Excessive use of heating gadgets, including space and electronic heaters placed in houses during winters, officials claim is the main cause of fires.
The Kashmir Valley has had 41 fire occurrences as a result of gas leaks and short-circuits in the first week of this year, with Srinagar dominating the list with nine such occurrences, Assistant Director Fire and Emergency Services, Aqib Hussain Mir told ‘Kashmir Images’.
He also informed that four residential structures and three shops were damaged at a Nowhatta locality near Bahauddin Sahab shrine in the old city here this morning.
Fire originated from a baker’s shop at around 8 am, engulfing four nearby residential structures and three shops. Significant damage was caused by the incident to the bakery and three shops adjacent to it, while the residential buildings suffered partial damage in the attic areas.
“At around 8:36 am, we received a call regarding a fire in the Bahauddin Sahab area of Nowhatta. We sent out men and machinery to douse the flames. It took us almost two hours to put out the fire, and at 10:10 am, it was under control,” the officer said.
Mir said following the major fire incident at Warwan and Kishtwar, the department carried out over 4,000 awareness campaigns and identified over 300 remote villages that are inaccessible to firemen.
“When making purchases, people don’t look at the quality of the electrical devices. Make sure only high-quality heating appliances’ are used at homes, and turn them off while you’re sleeping. Most of the fire incidents occur as a result of short-circuits or gas leaks, resulting in significant damage to the property,” Mir said.
Buildings with wooden paneling and superstructure, he claimed, are particularly susceptible to severe damage in the event of a fire.
