STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: Property worth lakhs was reduced to ashes in the devastating midnight fire in which four shops, a residential building and an Alto car were gutted in Malikpura market of Tehsil Gandoh in district Doda on intervening night.
According to reports, four shops and a residential building and an Alto car came under mysterious blaze in main market of MalikPura, 5 km from Gandoh.
The fire, which started at 12:45 AM on Friday, completely destroyed four shops and a residential complex belonging to Mohd Hanief son of Ghulam Mohd Malik, Altaf Hussain son of Abdul Gani Malik and Abdul Aziz son of Ghulam Mohd ,all resident of Tilogda Bhalessa. One Alto car JK06-9781 of Wasim Ahkter parked near the complex was also damaged in the fire.
Locals and police immediately started the operation to douse the fire, which was spreading very rapidly as the fire started from middle of the market and all the adjoining shops and houses are mostly made of dry cedar and pine wood.
SDPO Gandoh Sunny Gupta said that police along with locals reached the spot within 30 minutes and started to douse the flames, later fire tenders also joined us. As of now, fire has been completely extinguished and we are assessing the losses.
Police has taken the cognisance of fire incident and started investigating.
“Preliminary reports suggest that the fire started due to shot circuit,” SDPO added.
Meanwhile, Former Chief Minister Jammu and Kashmir and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad has expressed shock and grief over the tragic fire incident in village Malikpura Bhalessa of district Doda in which a large number of houses and shops were gutted.
The Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, has expressed sympathy towards the affected families and instructed the divisional and district administration to provide immediate help and support to all those affected due the devastating blaze.
Vice President JKPCC and MLA Inderwal, Ghulam Mohammad Saroori, Former MLA Bhaderwah, Mohammad Sharief Niaz, former MLA Doda, Abdul Majeed Wani, President DCC Doda, MLC, Naresh Kumar Gupta, Senior Congress leader from Doda, Mohd Aslam Goni have also expressed deep sorrow over the huge loss of property in the tragic fire incident today at Malik Pura area of Bhalessa.
Expressing their deep sympathies with the families who lost their house and shops in the tragic fire accident, Congress leaders have asked District Development Commissioner (DDC) Doda to carry out relief and rehabilitation measures including provide free ration, tin sheets, blankets and others for the victims. Urged administration for proper and timely compensation, relief for the affected families. Congress leaders said the government should provide every possible support to the victims so that they could not face any problem in the prevailing cold conditions.
Mohammed Sharief Niaz former Minister and Ex MLA Bhaderwah, Nadeem Sharief Niaz Secretary publicity JKPCC and various Congress workers of Bhadarwah Constituency expressed grief and shock over the loss of property in which many houses and shops were damaged after devastating fire broke out in Malikpura (Bhallessa) last night . Niaz further said that government must sanction ex gratia relief in favour of affected families so that they dont suffer in cold weather .
Niaz said that public has demanded fire station in past also for centrally located place in Bhallessa but government has paid no heed to this demand although such unfortunate incident have happened at various places like Kahra, Bathri, Bhatyas , Malikpura , Gwari , Changa and Kilhotran. Niaz said that if fire station is not sanctioned in Bhallessa at the earliest then there will be no option left for people but to start agitation on roads .
