SHAKEELA ANDRABI
SRINAGAR: Kashmir has been witnessing a surge in fire incidents over past few days. During intervening night of March 13-14, a massive fire broke out in Danderkha area of Batamaloo, in which 8 houses were gutted. On March 3, a fire broke out at Bone & Joint Hospital and emergency block was completely damaged. Fortunately, there was no casualty in incident.
On March 13, when a cricket match was going on between PCC Pinjura and Rising Star Heer in Tangmarg, a house in vicinity caught fire forcing players to stop game and join rescue efforts, in which several got injured. Earlier this month in Parimpora area near about 17 residential structures got completely damaged in massive fire incident.
On Jan 20, a woman and other local resident died while 2 others were injured in a fire incident that broke out in Jamallata area of old city, gutting 4 houses completely while 2 others were partially damaged.
According to Fire and Emergency Services officials, the summer capital Srinagar and other parts of valley are facing an increase in fire-accidents, as hundreds of incidents were reported from city and other areas during first two and half months, damaging hundreds of structures.
According to Deputy Director, Fire & Emergency Services, Bashir Ahmed Shah, the increase in fire incidents is mostly due to misuse of electricity. People are ignoring advisories, using heating and cooking equipments without proper care and supervision, which results in such incidents, said officer, adding that if basic guidelines will be followed properly, 50 per cent of incidents can be avoided.
While talking to STATE TIMES he revealed that most of the fire incidents were erupted due to short-circuit and negligence of people, adding that moreover, when a fire incident occurs, people don’t cooperate with department thereby leading to huge losses. “Further, people park their vehicles in an improper way and often unload construction material on roadside, which often give tough times to fire tenders in reaching accident spots,” he said. The officer appealed to people to cooperate with department in emergencies and desist from parking vehicles on roadside besides avoiding unloading construction material on roadside, so that fire tender can rush to the fire-incident spots without any obstacle.
It has been seen maximum fire incidents in city were reported in winters as people used to store various inflammable things for heating purposes like LPG cylinders, firewood, charcoal etc. “Fire incidents in summer capital are at an alarming raise and need immediate attention. Concerned departments should impart awareness to people regarding fire-fighting measures at initial stage,” a local said.