Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Jan 08: At least six warehouses of second-hand garments were damaged in a blaze that raged in the Pinchi Mandi area of Batamaloo, here today.
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With the estimated damage reported to be over Rs 50 lakh, victims stated that the Fire and Emergency personnel took more than half an hour to reach the spot and by that time, the fire had already spread.
“The headquarters of the Fire and Emergency Services is situated just a few minutes away, but they took time to reach here, and by the time they arrived, everything was destroyed,” said Khursheed Ahmad, one of the victims.
However, officials attributed the delay to a traffic jam, stating that they left with four fire tenders soon after receiving the call.
“There was a traffic jam that led to a delay; the traffic cops did their job to clear the road, but it took time,” said Noor Aalam, Incharge Divisional Fire Officer, City.
By the time, the fire tenders reached the spot, SSB personnel along with locals tried everything to extinguish the flames; however, their efforts did not prevent the properties from getting damaged.
Eyewitnesses reported that the warehouses, stored second-hand garments sold on the roadside, and many people were associated with them.
“This damage could have been prevented, if the firefighters had arrived on time; now it is all destroyed, leaving the victims with nothing.”
While the cause of fire is currently under investigation, officials attributed it to a short-circuit. “We are not sure about it yet, but with the loose wiring around, a short-circuit seems to be a possibility,” they added.
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