A fire broke out on Wednesday afternoon in the Nowpora area of Khanyar, Srinagar, damaging at least five residential houses and causing panic in the densely populated locality.

Fire and Emergency Services teams rushed to the spot, and the blaze was brought under control before it could spread to neighboring structures. Assistant Director Dr Aqib Hussain Mir praised locals who initially tried to contain the fire using available resources, saying their efforts, combined with firefighters’ work, helped prevent a more serious disaster.

No casualties have been reported, but the fire caused significant damage to household belongings and structures. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed, and authorities are assessing the full extent of the losses.

Dr Mir urged residents to exercise caution with electrical appliances during winter, maintain wiring properly, avoid overloading circuits, and follow basic fire safety measures. He also emphasized the importance of promptly reporting fire incidents to ensure quick response.