Firecrackers trigger shop blaze in Srinagar, goods worth lakhs damaged

Srinagar, Mar 23: Electronic goods worth lakhs of rupees were damaged after a closed shop caught fire in Srinagar’s Mehjoor Nagar area, allegedly due to firecrackers set off by children, locals said.
The incident occurred when firecrackers were reportedly pushed through a gap beneath the shutter of the shop late at night, triggering a blaze inside the premises.
The shop, owned by Abdul Qayoom Bagow, dealt in electronic goods and had stock valued at around Rs 10 to 12 lakh stored inside, the owner said.
The episode has drawn attention to continued violations of restrictions on firecracker use in residential areas, with locals alleging that such materials were freely available to children despite existing curbs.
According to the shop owner, the fire caused extensive damage to goods kept inside the store before it was brought under control.
“Goods worth around Rs 10 to 12 lakh have been damaged. I am thankful to the local residents who helped in dousing the fire,” Bagow told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
Locals said children were seen bursting firecrackers in lanes and by-lanes across the locality, including near closed shops and residential spaces, causing distress to elderly and unwell individuals.
In a separate incident reported from the same area, a sofa and a car cover were also gutted after being set ablaze by firecrackers, locals said.
There was no report of any injury in either of the incidents.
Locals have raised concerns over the unchecked sale and use of firecrackers, especially among minors, and called for stricter enforcement of existing regulations.
Authorities have previously imposed restrictions on the sale and use of firecrackers in Srinagar citing safety and public health concerns, but enforcement remains a challenge on the ground, locals said.
Notably, the Srinagar district administration imposed a blanket ban on the sale and use of firecrackers in October 2018, citing public safety and law-and-order concerns.
In subsequent years, authorities reinforced restrictions in line with environmental norms, including limiting the use of firecrackers to designated time slots and permitting only “green crackers” during certain festivals.
Despite these measures, enforcement has remained inconsistent, with periodic violations reported from various localities.
Authorities continue to issue advisories and localized restrictions from time to time, citing concerns over public safety, noise pollution and environmental impact. [KNT]