Excelsior Correspondent
RAMBAN, Jan 21: A double-storey building comprising 10 shops and several rooms was damaged in a devastating fire in Ukhral market last night causing massive damage.
The fire incident triggered protest by the locals and shopkeepers today at Bus Stand Ukhral demanding setting-up of Fire Station in the area.
The protesters claimed that fire tenders from Banihal and Ramban, which are about 30-35 km away, took one hour to reach the spot and by then the building in flames suffered massive damage.
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On getting information, a police team rushed to the spot and started operation to douse the flames at the double-storey building belonging to Beer Singh and Balwan Singh in main market of Ukhral and later on fire tenders also joined them.
Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Department, Ramban, Sahil Bandral said that three fire tenders were sent to Ukhral to douse the blaze.
There was no loss of life or injury to anyone in the incident and exact loss of property could not be ascertained till last reports.
The cause of fire was alleged to be electric short circuit but Ramsu Police was investigating the exact cause.
The Assistant Director also said that recommendations have been sent to higher-ups of the Department for establishing a Fire Station in Ukhral.
Later on Chairperson DDC Ramban, Shamshada Shan also visited Ukhral and expressed sympathies with the affected shopkeepers.
She demanded that the government should provide a special relief package to the affected people.
Shan further said that the administration should send adequate ration supply to the area as all ration stored for the winter months in three godowns was also destroyed in the fire incident.
Meanwhile, NC District Ramban president, Sajjad Shaheen has demanded compensation to the affected families. He has emphasized on the urgency of establishing a Fire Service Station at all the Tehsil headquarters in district Ramban.
Later on the Naib Tehsildar Ukhral, Nasir Javeed pacified the protesters by assuring that the matter would be brought to the notice of higher authorities.
Deputy Commissioner Ramban, Baseer Ul Haq Choudhary in response to public demand ordered a fire tender to be stationed at Ukhral and Khari to ensure rapid response to future incidents.
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