Sajid Raina
Gurez, Apr 11: At least five residential houses were gutted in a massive fire in Tulail Valley of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district late last night, Officials said on Tuesday.
Sub divisional magistrate Gurez, Mudasir Ahmad said that five houses were gutted in a massive fire in Grat-Nallah village of Tulail.
He said that the fire erupted from one of the residential houses and engulfed the surrounding houses within no time. “The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. There was, however, no loss of human life in the incident,” he said.
Notably, the Gurez valley has two fire stations in Gurez, one located in Gurez and the other in Tulail valley on whom people have accused that they are not able to act on time due to lack of manpower.
A fire and emergency official said that the houses in Gurez are mostly made up of wood due to the abundance of timber in the region. “While wooden houses have their own rustic charm, they are also more prone to fires. The dry and windy climate of the area further exacerbates the risk of fires,” he said.
“Unfortunately, the lack of proper fire fighting facilities in this remote area means that fires can quickly become uncontrollable and cause severe damage. Therefore, it is crucial for the residents of Gurez to take preventive measures such as installing smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to reduce the likelihood of a fire breaking out and to be prepared in case of emergencies,” he added.
Notably, the use of wood as a building material has been a tradition in the region for centuries, but with the changing times, there is a growing need to explore alternative and safer building materials that are resistant to fire and other hazards.
However, locals said that the adoption of new building materials and techniques can be a challenging task, as it involves significant changes to the local architecture and construction practices.
In the meantime, they said it is essential for the residents of Gurez to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to prevent fires that can potentially lead to loss of life and property. Majeed Ahmad, a local resident, said that the safety and well-being of a community should never be taken lightly. Unfortunately, the residents of the Tehsil Tulail have found themselves in a precarious situation due to the lack of adequate fire fighting facilities.
“With 50-60 hamlets spread across the region, the presence of just one fire vehicle is simply not enough to handle emergencies that can potentially lead to catastrophic consequences. The repeated demands made by the residents have fallen on deaf ears, leaving them feeling frustrated and helpless,” said Murtaza Ahmad, a local.
