Srinagar, April 16: Three residential houses were gutted in a fire incident in the Alamgari Bazar area of Srinagar, with firefighting teams bringing the blaze under control after a coordinated multi-unit response, officials said.
The fire broke out in a cluster of residential structures and quickly spread, engulfing all three buildings before emergency services reached the scene.
The State Fire Control Room at Batamaloo received a distress call, following which fire tenders from multiple stations, including Nowshera, Safakadal, Rainawari, Syed Hameed Pora, and headquarters, were dispatched to the site.
Upon arrival, firefighters found the structures fully involved in flames and launched simultaneous operations to contain the blaze. The fire was eventually brought under control after sustained efforts, and cooling operations were initiated to prevent further spread.
Deputy Director Fire and Emergency Services Command Srinagar Dr. Aqib Hussain Mir said three residential structures — a three-storeyed, a double-storeyed, and a single-storeyed building, were involved in the incident.
He said all buildings were of pucca construction with GCI sheet roofing, and the damage was extensive.
According to officials, roofing structures including attic portions of all three buildings were completely damaged, while the first and second floors of the three-storeyed building and the first floor of the double-storeyed building suffered severe destruction. Household goods, furnishings, and fixed installations were also damaged, while other portions sustained indirect impact from heat, smoke, and water.
An LPG cylinder inside one of the structures burst during the incident, adding to the intensity of the fire, officials said.
The operation was supervised by Director General Fire and Emergency Services Alok Kumar, with senior officers monitoring the situation on the ground.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the fire may have been caused by an electric short circuit, though officials said further investigation is underway. (KNT)
