Shopping complex gutted in fire mishap in Rafiabad

Srinagar, March 8: At least eight shops, one of them housing a kerosene depot, were gutted along with seven emptied rooms and a Patwar Khana in a fire triggered by a “lightning storm” in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district overnight, officials said on Monday.

Sources said that fire broke out on late Sunday night and immediately fire tenders, 32RR unit of Army Rafiabad, Jammu and Kashmir police and locals rushed to the spot to douse off the flames, however, massive fire gutted the shopping complex.

As per reports a massive fire was set off by the lightning storm in an old building housing eight shops on the ground floor, seven empty rooms besides a Patwar Khana in its first floor at Rafiabad area of the district.

All shops dealing with different mercantile and rooms besides the Patwar Khana (housing revenue record) were gutted.

“Among the shops, one of them houses a kerosene oil depot. It actually led to substantial damage,” an officer said.

He said that four tenders from as many fire and emergency stations— Dangiwachi, Seelu, Rohama and Kralgund—worked in unison to douse off the flames. “It was after hectic efforts that the fire was extinguished.” He said that there was no injury reported in the incident.

Meanwhile, police have registered a case in this regard.

An official said that the exact losses are yet to be ascertained and the cause of fire was not known immediately. “Further investigation has been taken up,” he said.