Srinagar, Feb 10 : A devastating fire broke out in the Rakh Colony locality of Srinagar’s Noorbagh on Monday, causing significant damage to 3 houses. The blaze, which erupted under mysterious circumstances, caused panic among the residents, who rushed out of their homes to safety.
Locals said that the fire started in one of the houses and spread rapidly due to the closely built structures in the congested locality. As flames engulfed the area, locals made frantic efforts to douse the fire before the arrival of the Fire and Emergency Services.
An official told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the firefighters faced significant difficulties in reaching the spot due to the narrow alleys and inaccessible roads. “The congested layout of Rakh Colony hampered the movement of fire tenders, forcing our teams to use smaller hose pipes and manually carry water to the affected area.”
Despite these challenges, firefighters, with assistance from locals, managed to contain the fire after several hours of struggle.
“The biggest challenge was accessibility. Our fire tenders couldn’t enter the lanes, which delayed operations. We had to extend hoses from a distance, making firefighting more difficult.”
While no casualties were reported in the incident, the affected families lost all their belongings to the inferno. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and police have launched an investigation to ascertain whether it was accidental or triggered by an electrical short circuit.
The affected families have appealed to the administration for immediate relief and rehabilitation. Locals have also urged authorities to improve road accessibility in such densely populated areas to prevent delays in emergency response during future incidents. [KNT]
