Jammu: Three persons were charred to death and as many others sustained serious burn injuries when their temporary huts caught fire in Narwal area of Jammu city in wee hours today.
“Three persons have been killed and as many others injured when their slums caught fire in the Narwal area at around 2.30 AM,” a police officer said.
Over four dozen huts were damaged in the fire which was later brought under control by deploying several fire tenders, he said.
“Several fire tenders were pressed into service to bring down the fire which is almost under control now,” he said.
A case has been registered and investigation initiated to ascertain the cause of the fire, he said.
Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti expressed grief over the death of three persons and gutting of around 80 hutments in Narwal area of Jammu city.
The Chief Minister expressed heartfelt sympathies with the families of three persons who were charred to death in the tragic fire incident, officials said.
She has directed the divisional administration to extend all humanitarian assistance to the affected families at the earliest.
Meanwhile, National Conference President Dr Farooq Abdullah and Working President Omar Abdullah expressed shock and grief over the death of three persons, including children, in tragic incident of fire in Narwal area of Jammu.
Describing the incident as most unfortunate, the two leaders conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family and expressed solidarity with all those whose dwelling units were gutted in the fire. They prayed for peace to the departed souls.
Provincial President National Conference Jammu, Devender Singh Rana also expressed grief over the deaths and expressed solidarity with the sufferers.
Speaker, J and K Legislative Assembly Kavinder Gupta visited the site and expressed grief over the loss of precious human lives in the devastating blaze.
The Speaker was accompanied by the Additional Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Arun Kumar Manhas, SDM Jammu South, Sonu Pargal, SDPO East, Chandan Kohli, CMO, Jammu, Robinder Khajuria, officers of the Fire services, Forensic Science Laboratory, Red Cross and people from the civil society.
As immediate relief, blankets and ration was distributed among the sufferers and a medical camp was organized for providing free medical aid to the residents of the area. The Speaker was informed that officers of the Forensic Science Laboratory were called in to ascertain the real cause of fire.
Underlining the need to adopt effective measures for their safety, the Speaker said that directions have already been passed to the Jammu Municipal Corporation, PDD, PHE and other departments for issuing notices to the owners of vacant plots who rent out their lands to migrant population for providing basic facilities such as toilets, electricity & water connection to them in a legalized way.
He directed the administration to conduct an impartial and transparent enquiry in this matter and set an example by booking the guilty, if any, under relevant laws in order to prevent such incidents in future.