Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, May 10: An overnight blaze that raged in the Beehama area of Ganderbal district damaged 13 shops, with an estimated loss running into crores.
Eyewitnesses reported that the fire originated from a restaurant around midnight on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, spread rapidly.
“It was sudden and spread quickly. Personnel from the Fire & Emergency Services, Police, and Army arrived promptly and did everything they could, but unfortunately, by the time they reached the scene, the damage had been done,” said Ghulam Hassan, president of the Shopkeepers’ Association.
While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, he emphasized that the extent of the loss is substantial, potentially reaching crores.
“As of now, it appears that the cause may have been an electrical short circuit, but there is no confirmation yet,” he added, urging the administration to provide necessary assistance.
Javid Ahmad, a shopkeeper, described the damage as extensive, noting that several affected shopkeepers do not have insurance coverage.
“The damage is severe and prompt measures are needed to rehabilitate the affected individuals. Many shopkeepers relied solely on their shops for income, and unfortunately, many of them were uninsured. They have nowhere else to turn,” he lamented.
Local residents also urged the district administration, particularly the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, to take note of the incident and provide relief to those who have suffered losses.
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