10 houses gutted at Karfali Mohalla
Srinagar, Oct 23: In yet another devastating blaze in downtown Srinagar, at least ten houses were gutted in a fire incident at Habba Kadal locality.
According to officials of the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department, the fire broke out at around 2:30 am, prompting a massive response from multiple stations, including Habba Kadal, Babademb, Headquarters, Gawkadal, and Rainawari. An official said that fire tenders and personnel battled the flames for hours before managing to bring the situation under control.
“A massive operation was launched soon after we received the call around 2:30 am. Given the congested lanes and the intensity of the fire, it took several hours to douse it completely,” said a F&ES official, adding that one fireman sustained minor injuries during the operation. “The cause of the fire is being investigated,” he said.
Affected families desperately tried to save their belongings. “It was a terrifying sight. People were screaming, and everyone was trying to help each other. It was midnight, and people were rescuing elderly children who were asleep during the incident,” said a local resident.
Officials said that among the gutted structures was a cloth godown, whose owner stated that the fire had caused him irreparable loss. “I had stored stock for the winter season, but everything turned to ashes. Years of hard work and savings are gone overnight,” he said, standing amid the remains of his business.
One of the victims, whose family was preparing for a wedding, said the tragedy had shattered them completely. “My daughter was supposed to get married soon. We had collected all the wedding items, clothes, gold, and even some cash. Everything has been reduced to ashes,” said a female victim.
Residents said that wrong parking in the narrow lanes hampered the movement of fire tenders and delayed the operation. “People park their vehicles overnight in these lanes, making it nearly impossible for emergency vehicles to reach on time,” said another local, urging authorities to regulate parking in congested areas strictly.
Locals said that most of the affected families come from poor backgrounds and have been left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing. The victims have appealed to the government and well-wishers for immediate relief and rehabilitation.
To mention that the Habba Kadal fire comes just two days after a similar incident at Fateh Kadal, where six residential houses were gutted, leaving dozens of families homeless. Officials said such incidents are becoming frequent as winter sets in, urging residents to exercise caution while using heating gadgets.
