Massive blaze in Kupwara leaves families homeless

Kupwara, Oct 23: A massive overnight blaze in the Hyhama area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district has destroyed ten structures, including five double-storeyed residential houses, three cowsheds and three shops, leaving several families homeless as the harsh winter approaches.
The affected families are grappling with the loss of their homes and livelihoods, while many are left without shelter and belongings, forced to face the onset of winter without the basic necessities.
Officials said that property worth crores had been lost in the fire, though no injuries or casualties were reported.
The fire reportedly broke out shortly after midnight, with flames originating from a shop and intensified rapidly due to the close proximity of the structures, eyewitnesses said.
“Immediately after receiving the call, we rushed to the spot with five fire vehicles from different stations. The fire was massive, and our priority was to prevent it from spreading to nearby structures, which could have resulted in even greater damage,” said a Fire & Emergency Services official.
It was a challenging operation, but the assistance from local residents was invaluable and highly commendable, he added
Locals, alongside Fire & Emergency Services, police and army personnel, worked together to douse the flames, but the fire had already consumed the homes and businesses of several families, the official said.
A local involved in the rescue efforts said, “We fought the fire for hours, but it spread too fast. Many families have lost everything, just as winter is beginning.”
The cause of the fire remains unknown, with officials saying that an investigation is underway to determine how the inferno started.
Meanwhile, Fayaz Mohammad Mir, the MLA of Kupwara, visited the scene to assess the damage. He assured the affected families of all possible assistance and immediate relief. “I will personally take up the matter with the higher authorities to ensure swift compensation for the victims,” he said.
Mir also distributed immediate relief supplies to help the victims, who have been left with nothing. “The Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara has committed to providing financial aid from Red Cross funds, along with Rs 1 lakh from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for each affected family,” Fayaz said.
“These families are my responsibility now,” the MLA said, adding that every possible step will be taken to ensure they are not left to suffer during the harsh winter. (KNO)