Inferno Leaves 33 Srinagar Families Homeless

10 single-storey houses, nine double-storey houses and one three-story house, got damaged in the blaze that broke in the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday at Gata Colony in the Noorbagh area.

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SRINAGAR — At least 33 families were rendered homeless after their residential houses got reduced to ashes in a fire incident in the Noorbagh area of Srinagar on Thursday.

Official sources reveal 20 structures including 10 single-storey houses, nine double-storey houses and one three-story house, got damaged in the blaze that broke in the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday at Gata Colony in the Noorbagh area.

In the incident, 20 residential houses belonging to Bashir Ahmad Sheikh, Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh, Ghulam Rasool Sheikh, Abdul Aziz Sheikh, Bashir Ahmed Sheikh, Sanaullah Sheikh, Parvez Ahmed Sheikh, Sabzar Ahmed Sheikh, Nisar Sheikh, Ali Mohd Sheikh, Mohd Sultan Sheikh, Gh Ahmad Sheikh, Mushtaq Ahmed Sheikh, Misra Banu, Bilal Ahmad Sheikh, Shahid Ahmed, Bashir Ahmed Sheikh and Gh Hassan were damaged.

There was no loss of life, however, a few firefighters received minor injuries while dousing the flames, he said.

The official said that the cause of the fire seems to be a short circuit.

Meanwhile, on the directions of Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mohammad Aijaz Asad, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Srinagar, Dr Syed Hanief Balkhi today visited Sheikh Colony Noor Bagh area to take first-hand appraisal and on the spot assessment of the damages caused due to devastating fire incident during the intervening night of Wednesday-Thursday.

The ADC who was accompanied by the Tehsildar Eidgah, Ishfaq Ahmad and other concerned officers met the fire victims whose residential houses were completely damaged in a massive fire incident.

While interacting with the fire sufferers, the ADC expressed sympathies with them on behalf of the District Administration Srinagar. He also assured that every kind of possible support shall be provided by the District Administration for their immediate rehabilitation.

The ADC was informed that 25 residential houses comprising 37 families were gutted in the devastating fire incident in Sheikh Colony Noorbagh.

On the occasion, essential assistance in the form of 185 blankets, 111 mattresses, 111 bedsheets and 37 kitchen sets, besides Rs 185000 to 37 families was provided by of Red Cross as interim relief to the fire victims.

Similarly, the District Administration Srinagar also provided the immediate assistance of Rs 15000, besides 15 blankets, 9 mattresses, 9 bedsheets and 3 kitchen sets to the fire victims of Rajouri Kadal area in Shaher e Khaas of the district in which one house was gutted in a fire incident on Wednesday rendering 3 families homeless.

Meanwhile, the DC has also sanctioned structure-wise financial assistance of Rs 25,47,500 in favour of 25 house owners of Noorbagh and Rs 1,01,900 in favour of Rajouri Kadal house owners under SDRF.

Earlier in March, a massive fire broke out in Bone and Joints hospital Barzulla.

Further, the District Administration has appealed to the General public to follow all precautionary measures while handling electric/electronic gadgets, LPG cylinders and other appliances being used for heating and cooking purposes to avoid such fire incidents. (KNO)