16 shops were gutted in a midnight fire incident in Iqbal Market, Batmaloo Srinagar on Tuesday, in which goods worth crores turned into ashes within minutes.
The fire erupted because of unknown reasons and engulfed the market within minutes, in which 16 shops were raised to ashes within minutes, and goods worth crores were lost. These shops were dealing in various items, including shoes, cosmetic items, mobiles, readymade garments and hosiery.
The owners of shops, which were gutted in the mysterious fire incident include, Javed Ahmed Bagaw, Parvez Qayoom Dar, Mohammad Ibad Bhat, Mushtaq Ahmed Lasoo, Aqib Nazir Sofi, Mohammad Ashraf Dagga, Nazir Ahmed Sofi, Rayees Rashid, Tahir Ahmed Bala, Qaisar Qayoom Dar, Abdul Rashid Bhat, Adil Ahmed Sofi, Parvez Ahmed Guroo, Mohammad Shafi Shah, Khalid Ahmed Bangroo and Abdul Razaq Mir.
Sources said that the fire erupted around 9 pm on Monday, which engulfed the market in seconds. At least 16 shops were completely raised to ground in the incident and goods worth crores of rupees also turned into ashes.
Eyewitnesses said that fire services department reached the spot in minutes and after hectic efforts controlled the fire from spreading to adjacent shops; however goods in these shops suffered a heavy damage due to the water used for extinguishing the fire.
Locals have praised the efforts of Fire Services Department, saying that if the firemen had not reached the spot in time, the loss would have been many folds.
Pertinently, the market in which these shops were located, was already suffering a huge decline in the business after the bus stand from Batmaloo was shifted to Parimpora and with Tuesday evening fire, victims of the incident are pushed to additional sufferings.
Police is ascertaining the cause of the fire; however locals ruled out electric short circuit to be the cause of fire, saying that shopkeepers used to cut the power supply to the market, every evening. (CNS)