Over 40 structures gutted in Sonamarg fire incident: All you need to know

Srinagar, Feb 09: A devastating fire in Sonamarg has destroyed over 40 structures, including hotels and shops, raising serious concerns about the lack of firefighting infrastructure in the popular tourist destination.

Incident Overview

On Saturday, the fire broke out at Hotel Sounsar in Sonamarg’s main market and quickly spread to adjacent shops, causing damage worth crores. Due to the swift response of local residents, no casualties were reported. However, over 40 commercial establishments, including hotels, were completely gutted.

Accountability and Outrage

The Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) and its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) have come under heavy criticism with locals saying despite repeated pleas from traders and hoteliers over the years, no fire station has been established in the area.

MLA Kangan, Mian Mehar Ali, held the CEO of Sonamarg responsible for the losses, stating that despite multiple requests for space allocation to set up a fire station, no action was taken. Speaking to media, he criticized the inaction, which he believes contributed to the extent of the damage.

In response, CEO Sonamarg G M Bhat stated that he had already written to the Fire Services Department regarding the need for a fire station.

He said that even in consultation with the Beopar Mandal Sonamarg some accommodation was also identified but due to certain formalities the Fire & Emergency Services Department was in process to take necessary measures to establish a fire station in Sonamarg. CEO said that this was an unfortunate incident and they are with the fire affected traders and hoteliers to provide all support from Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA).

He said that discussions were held with the Beopar Mandal Sonamarg to identify potential locations for a fire tender.

Demands for Immediate Action

The fire has reignited long-standing demands from Sonamarg’s traders, hoteliers, and residents for an immediate establishment of a fire station in the area. They argue that the absence of a local fire tender results in delayed responses, as fire services have to be dispatched from Gund and Kangan, located 20-40 kilometers away, worsening the damage.

Business owners recall that past fire incidents in 2006, 2007, and 2016 caused similar devastation, yet the authorities have failed to act on their promises.

Call for Urgent Fire Safety Measures

Traders and residents are urging authorities to expedite the establishment of a fire services unit in Sonamarg. They said that immediate deployment of a fire tender is essential to prevent further catastrophic losses and ensure the safety of businesses and livelihoods in the area.