Recent blaze in old town Baramulla manifests need for revival of decongestion plan

Baramulla, Apr 3: A recent massive fire that engulfed Old Town Baramulla has left 21 residential houses gutted and 28 families homeless, raising fresh concerns over the area's congestion and vulnerability to disasters. The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need to revive the long-abandoned decongestion plan for the densely populated old town Baramulla.

The narrow and overcrowded streets of Old Town Baramulla make it highly susceptible to natural calamities such as fires and earthquakes. A decade ago, authorities had initiated a decongestion program to relocate 80 residential houses to another area and construct three major roads at Tawheed Gunj, Bunglow Bagh, and Iqbal Colony.  The aim of the program was to ensure that emergency services during any natural calamity can reach the area without any obstacles. However, despite an initial start that saw the demolition of six houses in Kakar Hamam, the program was abruptly abandoned without explanation.

Local residents, deeply distressed by the recent fire, have expressed their frustration over the government's inaction.  "It feels like we are living on a volcano," said Firdous Ahmad, a resident of Tawheed Gunj. "Without decongestion, a disaster like this could turn catastrophic, as emergency services struggle to reach affected areas." Manzoor Ahmad Kababi, a resident of Mohalla Jalal Sahib, where 21 houses were reduced to ashes, criticised the political leadership for failing to act. "Politicians visited after the fire, but none addressed the need for reviving the decongestion plan," he said.

"The program must be restarted so that people can live safely and with dignity," added Kababi. The decongestion initiative gained attention after the devastating 2005 earthquake, but successive administrations failed to implement it.

Even a survey conducted by the Municipal Council Baramulla classified Old Town and Khanpora as slum areas, revealing an acute lack of drainage, overcrowded living conditions, and poor healthcare facilities. Residents stress that reviving the decongestion plan is essential not only for reducing the risk of disasters but also for improving living standards.  "If implemented properly, the plan would allow fire tenders to reach affected sites quickly and provide residents with better infrastructure," said Farooq Ahmad of Mohalla Jamia. With the recent fire disaster serving as a wake-up call, residents of the old town have urged authorities to take immediate action before another catastrophe strikes. “The need for decongestion has gained much attention now. The government must prioritise the safety and well-being of Old Town Baramulla’s inhabitants,” said a local resident.