Syed Tahir Bukhari
BARAMULLA, May 13: Northern residential quarters of Flood and Irrigation Department at Khowjabagh area of North Kashmir's Baramulla district were gutted in a fire during the intervening night of May12-13.
These residential quarters were allotted to Manzoor Ahmad Bhat,Aziz Sheikh, Mohammad Jamal Sheikh, Mohammad Shafi Sheikh, Harbajan Kour, and Gagandeep Kour R/O Baramulla district in 2004,who were working incGovernment and Semi-Government departments.
According to eyewitness, "At least six government residential quarters were gutted completely, after a major fire broke out in premises due to short circuit in the Northern Flood colony. One person was reportedly injured when he was trying to douse off the flames.
Eyewitness said, during the intervening night of Monday-Tuesday, six single storied government quarters were gutted in a fire incident one was injured whereas all household accessories worth Rs 10 Lakh were damaged within no time.
Manzoor Ahmad Bhat alleged fire and emergency department for late coming, we rang them thrice and then we went there but after many attempts they refused to come with us, otherwise we would have saved in time.
"Flames and smoke had started bulging from a small wooden shed adjacent to the main residential quarters, which engulfed all the quarters in just thirty minutes. We lost everything now we don't have anything on which we can survive" said, Manzoor.
Flood and Irrigation AEE Tariq Lala said. "we came to know on Tuesday morning about the said incident in which six single storied quarters of Flood and Irrigation department were gutted, but at the same time he maintained that these people are illegally residing there since 2005".
He said, after 2005 earthquake we, issued them notices in which department has clearly written that these are the unsafe structures, after declaring unsafe we are not responsible for any untoward incident. "How we could have allowed them to reside there, we forwarded our report to nearby police station for further enquiry, perhaps we cannot compensate may be the district administration could help them on the humanitarian grounds, said Lala.
According to the officials, the locals after noticing the flames came out of the school building immediately and informed police which rushed to the spot along with fire tenders.
The fire was brought under control but not before large scale damage to the building. The building consisting of 17 rooms gutted completely in the fire.
Meanwhile gas leakage trigger blast of LPG liquid petroleum gas cylinder, fire destroyed double story of Rafiq Ahmad S/O Hafizullha R/O Dachi Uri. |
