Houseboat gutted due to blaze in dry aqua grass

Srinagar, Jan 17: A houseboat was gutted after fire broke out in dry aqua grass at Kabutar Khana near Char Chinari in Dal Lake on Saturday, officials said.

The incident sent thick plumes of smoke into the air, causing panic among locals and tourists in the vicinity. Witnesses said the blaze was visible from several parts of the Dal Lake area, which is considered one of Kashmir’s major tourist attractions.

Officials from fire and emergency services said the fire originated in dry aqua grass and soon engulfed a nearby houseboat.

Officials said soon after receiving the information, Fire and Emergency Services, in coordination with the State Disaster Response Force and River Police, rushed to the spot.

"Fire tenders from the River Fire Station immediately launched firefighting operations. The fire involved dry aqua grass and a houseboat. Our teams responded promptly and managed to control the flames in time, preventing the fire from spreading to other nearby houseboats and structures,” a F&E official said.

He said the availability of water at the site significantly helped firefighters in bringing the blaze under control swiftly. No loss of life or injuries were reported in the incident, officials added.

The official said the incident is part of a worrying trend, as several fires involving dry grass, aqua grass and forest areas have been reported across Kashmir in recent weeks. “There has been a prolonged dry spell and the moisture content in grass and vegetation is very low, which makes them highly combustible,” the official added.