KUPWARA: Seven shops have been damaged in a major nocturnal blaze that has broke out at around 11.15 p.m from a two-storey shop building in Iqbal Market Kupwara Town of North Kashmir's district Kupwara.
Sources said that a fire broke out inside one of the shops located in Iqbal Market of Kupwara town which soon engulfed the nearby shops and a Co-operative Bank Unit was saved by fire tenders. Sources added that property worth lakhs got damaged in the fire incident.
Seven shops have been damaged in the fire incident so far even as fire tenders rushed to the spot to douse off the raging flames, said police officer.
Meanwhile an eyewitness said that locals from Mir Mohalla, Malik Mohalla, Ganie Mohalla Darzipora and other adjoining areas have joined efforts of the rescue team to avoid further spread of flames.“The wooden structures allowed the fire to spread fast, ” said local residents.
In a statement issued to Kupwara Times, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) Fayaz Ah Mir, former MLA Kupwara Bashir Ahmad Dar, former law minister Mir Saifullah, Social Worker Mohd Majnoon Mir, President Traders Federation Kupwara Showkat Masoodi, Social Worker Adv. Malikzada Umar Farooq, Kupwara Times Chief Editor Wasim Majnoon Mir, Businessman Haji Gh Ahmad Mir, Businessman Haji Gh Mohd Mir expressing his sympathy with the affected Shopkeepers, demanding investigation and Mini fire service station in the market.
Editor In Chief Kupwara Times Wasim Majnoon Mir demanded a mini fire service station in Old Bus stand and another at Regipora Bus stand with latest equipment and manpower.
Highly thankful to the Fire and emergency department as well as police and volunteers who made efforts to douse the fire and prevent its spread, Wasim Mir said.
A large group of people assembled at the scene and demanded to provide a Mini fire station in the Market. “It is our long pending demand to have a fire and emergency Mini station in the market. The fire tenders were rushed from Tehsil Office and it took them nearly 15 to 20 minutes to reach the spot, causing a little delay in the fire fighting operation, ” locals said.
MP Fayaz Mir, Police Officers, Army and other civil admin visited the place.
“However, no loss of life or injury was reported in the incident, Seven shops have been damaged in a major nocturnal blaze that has broke out at around 11.15 p.m from a two-storey shop building in Iqbal Market Kupwara Town of North Kashmir's district Kupwara”. Police have launched an investigation, the officer said.