Warwan fire victims begin rebuilding as surface connectivity restored

Anantnag, May 18: With surface connectivity finally restored to the remote twin valleys of Warwan and Marwa after five months of isolation, victims of the devastating fire in Warwan’s Mulwarwan village are preparing to rebuild their lives from scratch.

The fire, which broke out on October 14, destroyed at least 60 houses and left about 85 families homeless, just ahead of the harsh winter. The blaze consumed everything—homes, clothing, utensils, books, and personal belongings—plunging the community into despair. But a wave of solidarity from the people of Chenab Valley, including the districts of Kishtwar, Doda, and Ramban, as well as from across the Kashmir Valley, brought hope. Truckloads of relief arrived, followed by efforts to provide reconstruction materials.

Leading these efforts is Ababeel, a Doda-based charity that distributed essential construction supplies, including bricks and tin sheets. Several other voluntary organizations joined forces to coordinate the recovery effort.

“Our goal was to deliver 700,000 bricks and 6,000 roofing sheets to the affected families,” said Advocate Hassan Babar, a volunteer with Ababeel. “Since construction wasn’t feasible in winter, we prioritized getting materials to families on time. Now that the road is open and the weather has improved, reconstruction has begun.”

Debris has been cleared, and additional supplies—including cement, timber, plywood, and iron—are en route, Babar said. Families have already received solar lights, gas stoves, and other essentials.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who took office on October 16, visited the village the following day. He assured long-term rehabilitation and sanctioned financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh for each of the 85 affected families. The government has also approved a special project under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G) to provide permanent housing for the victims.

Residents, many of whom depend on farming for their livelihood, have resumed agricultural activities. “It will take about a month to complete farming tasks,” said local resident Ali Muhmad. “Now that the road is open, we need additional construction materials—bricks, steel, cement, and wooden logs.” While most materials are expected to arrive from Kashmir, the wooden logs must come from the forest department. But delays persist. “The forest department needs more than Rs 3 million to supply the wooden logs for free, as promised, but the funds have yet to be released,” said Aadil Koka, another local. “We urge the government to act quickly so people don’t continue to suffer.”

Despite their own limited resources, residents of the Warwan Valley—comprising over 15 villages and home to about 15,000 people—opened their homes to the fire victims during the winter. “One family with five rooms gave away two to victims,” said Muzafar Rather, a local resident. “Whatever we ate, they ate too.” During winters, Warwan and Marwa valleys remain cut off as the only access road via Margan Top gets blocked due to snow.  Though the area falls under Kishtwar district, there is no direct road to the district headquarters.  Residents typically travel through Kokernag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district to reach it.