Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Oct 13: Property worth several crores was damaged as at least 11 shops including three stores of the traders in a three storey building complex were totally gutted in a major fire incident at Surankote town last mid night.
The intensity of the fire was so high that hundreds of people came out of their houses in panic and joined Firemen, Army and Policemen to control the fire. The fire started from one of the shops at around 12.45 am and it engulfed the adjoining shops and then entire three storey building.
A watchman on night duty noticed the fire in a shop and raised alarm. With this all the occupants of three storey building came out in panic and saved their lives. They informed local Fire Services staff and they reached after some time with only one tender. It also took some time because it was lying empty at the station. The police party led by SHO also reached there on the spot, followed by SDPO Surankote. The Police then sought Army help as the fire was in thickly populated area and was posing threat to the public property.
About 150 Army personnel from 16 RR and 25 RR Units led by six officers joined the operation and used their own fire tenders to control fire. Two more Fire tenders from Mandi town and Poonch also arrived after one and half hour. It took about five hours to all of them to control the fire. The locals of the area and civil administration, highly appreciated the Army’s prompt action and said that had they not joined them there could have been massive devastation in the thickly populated town.
An official spokesman said that loss of property is being assessed and it may run into several crores. Total 11 structures have been gutted and a complete three storey and a two storey buildings have been razed. No loss of human life has been reported but three persons received minor injuries. Four main shops belonged to Abdul Rashid, son of Hussain Din (Photostat/ Photo Lab), Arshed Mehmood, son of Muneer Hussain ( Readymade clothes), Raja Rameez ( Cosmetics) and Mohd Altaf (provisions store), Stores/ godowns belonged to Abdul Rashid, Mohd Afzal and Mohd Rashid. Residential portion of the building was also totally damaged and all the household goods burnt.
In the morning people held protest in the town and alleged that the only Fire tender at Surankote arrived late because it was lying empty. They demanded at least three Fire tenders and inquiry into the incident. They alleged some foul play. They also demanded compensation for the losses.
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