People should play their role in reducing fire incidents

As the winter sets in, the threat of fire incidents are looming large in the Valley. During the winter period in Kashmir, the temperature settles below freezing point and to overcome the sub-zero temperatures, the people across the Valley opt to use the heating gadgets, which have caused majority of fire incidents during the harsh winter period here, leading to the loss of properties as well as the precious lives of people. The winter comes with a huge responsibility for the concerned Fire and Emergency Services with the figures revealing that a total of 6,031 incidents, including fire emergencies and rescue operations, have been managed across the Union Territory so far this year. As part of its preparedness, the department has prioritised awareness campaigns. In 2024, over 2,500 fire safety programs were conducted, reaching 159,108 students across 1,239 educational institutions, according to the data, which added that 54,450 participants from the general public were engaged in fire safety awareness efforts. However, at this critical time, the people need to use the heating gadgets judiciously and must avoid overloading that cause the short circuits and other related issues, which adds to the number of fire incidents during winters. The time has come when the people should play their role in reducing the number of such incidents and also prevent the loss of lives.