Uri: At least five shops were completely gutted and goods worth lakhs of rupees reduced to ashes in a devastating fire that broke out from a shop here in border town Uri of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district in wee hours on Monday.
Eyewitness said that fire broke out from a shop in main market Uri at around 4.30 am Monday wee hours and the fire flames engulfed the adjacent shops in jiffy in which five shops were completely destroyed and goods worth lakhs of rupees were destroyed.
A top police official said that five shops destroyed in the fire include chemist shop Alshafa medicate of Khursheed Ahmed Mir, Footwear of Abdul Rashid, Barbar shop of Mohammad Javeed, Readymade garments shop of Safer Ahmed and another shop belonged to Sajad Ahmed.
“We have suffered massive damage as all goods in our shop were destroyed and property worth crores was reduced to rubble,” said owner of chemist shop.
The fire was extinguished after strenuous efforts of police,fire and emergency department and army which jointly carried out the fire fighting operations.
“As the fire broke out in main market Uri, SDPO called Army camp commandant with request for immediate help to extinguish the fire. The Army responded immediately Agnirakshak along with Quick Reaction Team reached the spot and went into action,” a defense statement said.
“The additional Agnirakshaks of other units also reached the site. Civil fire tender, with active help from two Army fire tenders, was able to douse the fire completely,” the statement further added.
“The fire was completely extinguished by 6.15 am. And there has been no loss or injury to human life. The SDPO, URI thanked the Kalapahar Brigade for cooperation and timely action which averted major damage to other assets in the near vicinity,” the statement added.
SDPO Uri said that cause of fire could not be ascertained immediately and efforts are on to ascertain the cause of fire.
National Conference North Kashmir president, Dr. Sajad Shafi has demanded immediate compensation to the fire victims and urged civil administration to make the assessment of the damage. Meanwhile police has taken cognizance of this fire mishap.
