Anantnag fire incident

Ten residential houses and eight shops were gutted in a fire incident at Mehmaan Mohalla, Anantnag town. Property worth crores of rupees has been damaged in the incident and a number of families rendered homeless.

A Masjid and several residential houses were also damaged in a fire incident at Eidgah area in Srinagar. There is an immediate need to provide compensation to the people affected by fire mishaps. Measures should also be taken for the relief and rehabilitation of those rendered homeless. The affected families not only lost their homes but their belongings also. The shopkeepers also suffered losses.

The affected people need immediate compensation, relief and assistance for rehabilitation. This should be provided to them without any delay. Recently a masjid, residential houses and shopping complexes were gutted at Bohri Kadal in Srinagar. Fire incidents continue to occur and these mishaps should be prevented. Fire safety measures have to be adopted by the people in this connection.

Electric short circuit is the cause for most fire mishaps and sometimes leakage in the LPG gas cylinders also causes fire. The people must take steps to prevent electric short circuits or leakage in LPG gas cylinders. If there are any kind of faults in electricity system within the buildings or just outside the buildings those should be removed. Same way the LPG gas cylinders should be checked regularly to rule out leakage.

Usually, in spring and summer months the fire incidents are lesser compared to winter when the heating appliances and kangris are in use on large scale. Stocking of dry grass and firewood at unsafe places in winter sometimes causes fire. This summer the reports of fire incidents are pouring in from different places indicating that not all are adopting fire safety measures. The carelessness by one individual or one family not only affects their house or shop but also those in the neighbourhood. Several families get affected in fire mishaps.

In congested areas the fire spreads immediately to adjoining buildings. In these areas the fire fighting operations becomes problematic. Sometimes the fire tenders are not able to reach the spot in time due to narrow roads. In some rural areas the fire tenders take time to reach the spot as they have to come from far off places. More fire and emergency service stations should be established, wherever required. Preventing fire incidents is a collective responsibility and the responsibility has to be taken by all for the safety of property and lives.***