At least five shops were gutted in an inferno which broke out on Sunday evening late in main market Fatehgarh in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district.
Reports reaching GNS said that the fire broke out at around 11:08 PM and continued for several hours.
Despite hectic efforts by Fire and Emergency Services Department, actively assisted by army, police and civilians to contain the fire, five shops were gutted in the mishap.
A Fire and Emergency Services Department official told GNS that the affected site is at a distance of nearly twelve kilometres from the nearest station, which according to him, took them some time to reach (the site).
Five shops which were in proximity were gutted in the mishap, the official said.
Meanwhile army in a statement to GNS said that on receiving information about the incident, two teams including a Quick Reaction Team was rushed to the site with firefighting equipments.
“Army personnel without caring for their own safety, carried a human chain from the water point to the incident site” it said adding the fire was contained and allowed not to spread to adjacent shops, houses and trees.”
“After strenuous firefight, the blaze was finally tamed at 1:15 AM, army said, adding the village Panchayat members and senior citizens of the village lauded the efforts and professionalism of army in minimising the loss in the mishap.” (GNS)