Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH, Feb 13: A shopping complex cum residential building caught fire in the Sartingal area of Bhaderwah, reducing the two stories and three shops in the same building to ashes on Sunday afternoon.
The fire brigade took over two hours and around 6 water tankers to douse the flames. Incharge Fire Services Bhaderwah Zakir Hussain Butt said that no casualty was reported as fire tenders reached the spot within 10 minutes and thus, averted major tragedy in the thickly populated area.
“Three shops and third floor of the building belonging to Mohd Ashraf were reduced to ashes in the fire. No casualties were reported in the incident though property worth lakhs of rupees were gutted,” Butt added.
According to initial reports the building caught fire due to leaked cooking gas cylinders. However, a police official present on the spot said that the cause of the fire was unknown and an experts’ team has already conducted a ‘panchnama’ of the spot located in a densely-populated locality.
The police faced a tough time clearing way for fire tenders and water tankers. Clouds of smoke were seen dotted in the skyline and dozens of onlookers thronged to the spot. The firemen forcibly dispersed the crowd, after which three tenders and 6 water tankers could reach the spot. Firemen with help from the troops of 4 Rashtriya Rifles and locals finally managed to douse the fire late in the evening.
Bhaderwah police has registered a case of accidental fire and launched an investigation into the incident.
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