A significant fire incident in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district early Sunday morning resulted in the destruction of nearly a dozen shops. Officials confirmed that no casualties have been reported from the incident.
Details of the Incident
The blaze erupted around 5 am in the Bufliaz central market, which is situated along the historic Mughal Road. The affected shops were primarily constructed using wood and tin, which contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.
Local residents, along with personnel from the Indian Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), initiated firefighting efforts. They were later joined by a team from the Fire and Emergency Services department.
Firefighting Response
An official from the Fire and Emergency Services stated that the blaze was brought under control within 30 minutes of their arrival, which helped limit the extent of the damage. Preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit in one of the shops sparked the fire, which then quickly spread to neighboring establishments.
Local Resentment and Demands
Locals expressed strong resentment over what they described as the civil administration's inadequate response to the incident. A fire victim stated, "The absence of a fire station in the area turned this into a bigger tragedy. One fire tender from Surankote reached the spot more than an hour after the blaze broke out. We are grateful to the Army and CRPF personnel for their prompt response, which helped save at least four shops from being engulfed by the flames. Sadly, no representative of the civil administration visited the scene to assess the damage or offer assistance."
The affected traders and residents alleged that the delay in firefighting efforts allowed the fire to spread rapidly, causing extensive damage to shops and property. They demanded the establishment of a permanent fire station in the area, emphasizing that the lack of emergency infrastructure has repeatedly put lives and property at risk. The locals called upon the administration to conduct a proper assessment of the losses and extend financial assistance to help affected families and shopkeepers rebuild their livelihoods.
