2 houses gutted at Shaheed Gunj

Srinagar, Dec 16: At least two houses were gutted in a fire incident at Shaheed Gunj area of Srinagar on Tuesday afternoon, leaving several families without shelter amid freezing temperatures.

Officials from the Fire and Emergency Services said they received a distress call at around 4.38 pm, following which fire tenders and teams were rushed to the spot from Fire Headquarters, Habbakadal, MR Gunj, and SH Pora fire stations.

“The fire broke out in a house and quickly spread to an adjacent structure due to their close proximity. Shaheed Gunj is a highly congested locality, and within a short span of time, both houses were engulfed in flames,” an official said.

Chaotic scenes were witnessed in the area as the fire spread rapidly. Residents were seen rushing out of their homes and throwing household belongings onto the street in an attempt to save whatever they could. Locals also assisted firefighters by helping clear passages and managing the crowd during the operation.

Fire officials said their priority was to prevent the blaze from spreading further to nearby houses. “Given the congestion in the area, containing the fire was critical. Our teams worked to bring the situation under control and avoid further damage,” the official added, noting that investigations into the cause of the fire are underway.

However, some residents raised concerns about the firefighting operation. A local resident said that while the fire services arrived on time, certain technical issues caused delays. “There were leakage problems with pipes, which slowed down the operation initially. In fire incidents, even a few minutes can make a huge difference. Authorities must ensure that all equipment is fully functional,” said a local.

Residents also appealed for immediate assistance to the affected families, many of whom belong to economically weaker sections. “These families have lost everything, and winter has already set in. They need urgent relief and rehabilitation so they can stay safe during the cold,” another local said.

To mention, fire incidents are on the rise amid the winter season, and officials have repeatedly urged people to strictly follow standard operating procedures while using heating gadgets and electrical appliances, which remain among the major causes of such fires.