Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Apr 17: At least seven residential houses, including a shopping complex, were today damaged in a massive fire incident at Hazratbal that raged around the afternoon.
According to the authorities, a business centre just across from the Sir Syed Gate of the University of Kashmir caught fire, which then spread.
Soon after that, they said, even though fire tenders from many adjacent stations were sent to put out the fire promptly, it raged and quickly spread to numerous additional stores and residential buildings.
The fire was put out after several frantic hours of work, according to the authorities, who also stated that a number of shops, including Hatrick and Amigos food outlets, which were a part of the shopping complex, as well as at least seven residential homes, were damaged.
The attic, roofing, and ceiling of the buildings sustained the most of the damage from the fire, according to the officials, who also expressed sadness at the uncalled-for behaviour of the drivers who, he said, obstructed the road despite the fire tenders’ use of sirens to clear a path for their passage.
The official stated that “the authorities need to look into this and take necessary measures so that no emergency movement of the fire tenders is hampered in any way.”
He went on to say that deputing and escorting the fire tenders with police personnel may be a possible option in such a case.
While the fire was sparked to such a great extent by gas cylinder explosions in one of the food outlets, the official stated that the source of the fire was not yet known.
Although the J&K Waqf Board owns the damaged structures, people said that the Waqf authorities have so far failed to install a fire fighting system despite receiving the required rent.
“The Auqaf has not installed the fire extinguishers despite us paying them the necessary rent; they are responsible for it; and no action against the owner of the shops who stored a number of LPG gas cylinders,” the locals said.
They also said that the fire emerged from Amigos restaurant where several gas cylinders remain stored. “30 were taken out when the fire broke out and the rest blasted there leading to further spread of the fire,” the locals said.
They also alleged that the F&ES Services reached the spot late and by the time they reached there, the damage was already done.
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