Massive fire broke out in a five-storey commercial building near the Lal Chowk city centre in the heart of Srinagar on Saturday. However, timely intervention by firefighting teams helped contain the blaze before it could spread to adjoining structures in the congested locality which is the business hub. No casualty was reported in the incident.
Officials said Fire and Emergency Services personnel rushed to the spot and the firefighters recovered 19 gas cylinders during the operation. Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire started from the attic portion of the building where kitchen of a restaurant is located. The attic portion of the restaurant sustained damage in the incident, while firefighters managed to save the rest of the five-storey building from being engulfed in flames.
Assistant Director, Fire and Emergency Services, Aqib Mir, said, "The fire originated from the attic portion of the building, which houses the kitchen of a restaurant. The cause of the fire is being ascertained." "The attic was severely damaged. There were no casualties," he said. Mir said that storing combustible materials in such a manner is hazardous and could lead to serious consequences.
The firefighters managed to contain the damage by swiftly dousing the blaze using a hydraulic platform, Mir said. He confirmed that during the firefighting operation, 19 gas cylinders were recovered from the spot, he said."We have informed the concerned police station," he added.
Mir appealed to people not to store combustible substances at home or commercial places. The incident has raised concerns over safety compliance, particularly the storage of multiple gas cylinders in a confined attic space within a commercial building. The department has formally alerted the local police for further investigation and necessary action regarding safety violations.
Follow us
