Fateh Kadal blaze guts 6 residential houses

Srinagar, Oct 21: A massive fire broke out in the congested Fateh Kadal area of downtown Srinagar on Monday night, turning several residential structures to ashes and leaving scores of families without shelter. Officials said the incident, which occurred around 11 PM, triggered panic and emotional scenes as residents watched their homes and belongings go up in flames.

According to officials from the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department, a fire call was received at around 11 PM, following which multiple fire tenders were rushed from several stations including Headquarters, Baba Demb, Safa Kadal, MR Gunj, Rainawari, and others to douse off the flames.

“We immediately dispatched all available units to the spot. Given the congested nature of the locality, the fire spread rapidly and engulfed around six residential structures,” said a senior F&ES official.

“One of our firemen sustained minor injuries during the operation, but our teams managed to contain the fire before it spread to adjoining houses,” he added.

Officials said the locality, one of the oldest and most congested pockets of downtown Srinagar, is known for its closely packed wooden structures, making it highly vulnerable to such incidents. They said narrow lanes also make it difficult for fire tenders to access the area quickly during emergencies.

Witnesses said the fire started from one of the residential buildings before leaping onto adjacent houses. They said many of the affected houses were two or three-storey structures, some of which also housed small commercial units.

“There were heart-wrenching scenes all around. Women were crying, children were screaming as people tried to save whatever they could, but the flames were too strong,” said a local resident.

One of the victims said that he works as a salesman and earns meagre wages to sustain his family. “I earn a small amount every month, just enough to feed my family. Last night, I lost everything including clothes, documents and all our belongings," he said.

Another victim, a woman who ran a small tailoring unit from her home, said her source of livelihood had been destroyed. “I had a small setup where I worked for people in the area. Now everything is gone,” she said, while fighting back her tears.

Locals, however, praised the prompt action of the firemen and neighbours who came forward to help the affected families. “Had they not acted swiftly, the fire could have caused a far greater tragedy in this densely packed area,” a local youth said.

Meanwhile, the victims and civil society members have appealed to the administration and local representatives to provide immediate relief and rehabilitation to the displaced families, who are struggling amid dropping night temperatures.

Officials said the cause of the fire is under investigation. They also reiterated their recent advisory urging residents to take precautions as winter approaches. “With the increased use of heating gadgets during the cold months, people must follow all safety guidelines to prevent such tragedies,” the F&ES official added.