7 houses gutted at Ganpatyar

Srinagar, Oct 7: At least seven houses were gutted in a devastating fire that broke out in the congested Ganpatyar area of Habba Kadal in Downtown here on Tuesday morning.

The incident left several families homeless and without belongings. Officials from the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) said they received a distress call at around 10:30 am, following which multiple firefighting units from Habba Kadal, Babadem, Headquarters, and Rainawari stations were pressed to douse the flames.

“The locality is one of the most congested areas in the old city. The structures are mostly old and made of wood, which made the fire spread rapidly. At least seven residential structures were gutted in the incident,” an F&ES official said.

Locals said the blaze engulfed the cluster of houses within minutes. “We saw flames rising from one of the attics and within no time, the fire spread to adjoining houses. The lanes here are so narrow that fire tenders had a hard time reaching the spot,” said an eyewitness.

Witnesses said panic gripped the area as residents rushed to save whatever belongings they could before the fire reached their homes. Women and children could be seen crying as thick smoke enveloped the densely packed neighborhood.

Among the affected, a resident of the locality, wept as she watched her home reduced to ashes. “I have four daughters who are yet to be married. Everything we had is gone,” she said in tears.

Officials confirmed that no injuries or fatalities were reported in the incident. “The cause of the fire is being ascertained,” another official said, adding that personnel from the local police station also assisted in the rescue and evacuation efforts.

The victims have appealed to the administration to provide immediate assistance and rehabilitation. “We have lost everything. We urge the authorities to help us rebuild our lives,” said another resident.

Fire incidents are frequent in Srinagar’s old city areas, such as Habba Kadal, Khanyar, and Safa Kadal, where many houses are old wooden structures built closely together. Officials from the Fire and Emergency Services have advised that, with winter approaching, people should take extra precautions when using heating appliances. “We continue to issue advisories and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). We urge residents to check wiring and handle electrical gadgets safely,” said the official.