Anantnag: A devastating fire broke out in the Gujnag Kadipora area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, reducing nearly 20 residential houses to ashes and leaving hundreds homeless in the holy month of Ramadan.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire originated from the house of the late Nisar Ahmad Lulu and spread rapidly to neighboring homes. The densely packed structures and inadequate firefighting resources accelerated the destruction, as flames engulfed an entire row of houses within minutes.
Locals, assisted by firefighters and police, made desperate attempts to douse the flames but struggled due to a severe water shortage and non-functional fire hydrants.
“We tried our best, but the lack of water and defunct fire plugs made it impossible to control the fire in time,” said a distressed resident.
This incident has once again exposed the vulnerability of Anantnag’s congested old-town areas to fire disasters. Many localities in South Kashmir lack a functional fire safety system, with most hydrants—installed decades ago—now rusted and non-operational due to poor maintenance.
Locals expressed frustration over the authorities’ inaction despite repeated appeals for upgraded firefighting infrastructure.
“The fire plugs in our area were installed nearly 35 years ago. They have rusted and become useless. Very few new ones have been added over the years, leaving us at the mercy of such disasters,” said another resident.
Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Fakhuruddin Ahmad, accompanied by police and civil administration officials, visited the site to assess the damage and assured immediate assistance to the affected families.
“In this holy month of Ramadan, we will ensure that emergency aid reaches all victims at the earliest,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the displaced families, now struggling for basic necessities, have urged the administration to expedite rehabilitation efforts and invest in strengthening the region’s firefighting infrastructure to prevent such tragedies in the future.(KNT)
