Surge in fire incidents left families homeless, property getting heavily damaged in Kupwara

Kupwara, Dec 31: North Kashmir’s Kupwara district has witnessed numerous fire incidents in the current year, leaving many families homeless.

According to official data, three hundred and fifty seven fire incidents have been recorded till November 2024 in this district during which over two hundred structures were destroyed, and several fatalities occurred.

"A total of three hundred and fifty seven fire incidents across the district led to two hundred and fourty seven structures being reduced to ashes. Among these, ninety houses were completely destroyed, and forty seven shopping complexes were consumed by the flames. Nine buildings have also been destroyed in these fire incidents," said an official.

"The damages include one government school, fourty eight cow sheds, and fifty two smaller structures that were completely damaged. Moreover, four mosques and religious institutions (Darul Ulooms) were also reduced to ashes, while twelve electricity transformers and four private vehicles were damaged by fire," he added.

Official data reveals that three factories and thirty one forests were also engulfed by flames, along with three hundred and sixty one trees getting burnt down by the fire.

Three persons lost their lives in the raging flames while a total of fourteen people were injured while attempting to control the fire. Seven livestock also perished in different fire incidents in this frontier district.

The total property damage from these fire incidents across the district is estimated at 10.99 billion rupees, with 2.164 billion rupees worth of property completely destroyed.

Pertinently several far off areas of the district still grapple with lack of fire stations and people of these areas including Ramhal, Awoora, Machil, Budnamal, Jumagand and Keran have once again appealed to the concerned authorities to set up fire stations in their areas to thwart any possible future eventuality.