Years of appeals ignored: Kupwara’s high-altitude villages still without fire stations

Kupwara, Nov 17: Several snowbound upper areas of Kupwara district — including Keran, Budnamal, Machil and Jumagund — continue to live under the constant threat of devastating fire incidents as no firefighting stations have been set up in these remote regions despite repeated appeals from locals.

These villages remain cut off for months during heavy snowfall, leaving residents isolated and without any emergency response systems. In such conditions, even a minor spark can quickly turn into a major disaster, yet there is no trained crew or equipment available to contain a fire.

The absence of fire services in these upper belts is a long-standing issue. Locals say that every winter their vulnerability increases, but authorities have failed to deliver on longstanding demands for basic fire protection infrastructure.

“Every winter, we live with the dread that a single spark could destroy everything. The Warwan tragedy has reminded us how easily it could happen here. We need firefighting units, not in some distant future, but right now,” former BDC Chairman Keran, Mohammad Syed Khawja, told Greater Kashmir.

Irshad, a resident of Budnamal, said that once snow blankets the area, road connectivity collapses completely. “When we are cut off, a fire breaks out, and there is simply no one to call. We fight it with snow, but that’s not enough. A nearby firefighting unit could save lives, but we don’t have even that basic facility,” he said.

“We hear about fires in nearby villages every year and wonder when it will be our turn. Children sleep with fear, knowing that if fire strikes, no help will come,” he added.

Residents of Machil Valley also expressed anger over the administration’s failure to establish a firefighting station. “Last year, a mini fire tender was allotted to us, but for unknown reasons, it was withdrawn within months. People feel betrayed,” said former sarpanch Machil, Habibullah.

District Development Council (DDC) Chairman, Irfan Sultan Panditpori, said the conditions in these remote areas make the need for firefighting units even more urgent. "The Warwan fire incident last year is a stark reminder of how vulnerable these villages are. Every winter, snowfall isolates them completely, leaving residents to fend for themselves during emergencies,” he said.

“The government must act immediately. What happened in Warwan could happen in any of these villages. Without firefighting units, lives and property remain at constant risk. The time to act is now—before flames consume more than just homes,” he added.