3 complexes, Pandit Ashram suffer damage in Sherbagh blaze

Srinagar, Apr 12: A massive conflagration which broke out on intervening Monday and Tuesday night dealt substantial damage to at least three complexes, which included a shopping-cum-residential complex, besides to a Pandit Ashram in Sherbagh area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
Reports said that a fire broke in Sherbagh area at around 12:40 AM and soon after spread to nearby structures. Even as men and machinery arrived at the site, the fire had already spread to a larger area making it difficult for the department assisted by locals to the raging flames.
As per preliminary reports, at least three complexes, a Pandit Ashram and a Floriculture Department hut suffered damage.
A Fire and Emergency Department official told GNS that soon after receiving intimation, they moved men and machinery to the site, however the fire had already spread to a vast area, which according to him, made it difficult to contain the fire.
“Few complexes and some other nearby structures have received damage in the incident”, the official said adding “the total damage caused is however being ascertained and would be conveyed accordingly”.
National Conference President and Member of the parliament from Srinagar Dr Farooq Abdullah and Vice President Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expressed profound anguish over a massive blaze in the Sherbagh market of Anantnag town in which scores of residential and commercial structures were gutted.
While expressing grief over the unfortunate incident, the duo expressed sympathies with the affected families and traders. It is a challenging and critical situation for all of the affected families, they said, asking the divisional administration to reach out to the affected with immediate relief. They impressed upon the divisional administration to rush revenue teams to the spot and assess the losses so that the quantum of relief and compensation is also doled out to the affected without any delay. The duo prayed for the revival of all the affected families.
The duo added that the market has been the prime shopping centre of the township and the entire district, therefore it is imperative for the divisional and district administration to restore it to its pristine glory.
Party MP from Anantnag Hasnain Masoodi while expressing solidarity with the fire victims said he is saddened by the massive losses suffered by people in the devastating fire. He called for upgradation and capacity building of fire services in the entire South Kashmir districts and called for a comprehensive fire safety audit of the shrines, government installations, business centres. (GNS)