Baramulla– A devastating fire that broke out in a congested locality of old town Baramulla on Monday night gutted over 21 houses, leaving 33 families homeless.
Officials said the blaze spread rapidly, prompting an immediate response from locals, Fire and Emergency Services personnel, J&K Police, and other volunteers who worked tirelessly to douse the flames. After hours of relentless efforts, the fire was finally brought under control. Although no casualties were reported, property worth crores was destroyed.
Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, along with the Deputy Inspector General of Police and Senior Superintendent of Police, visited the affected area and met the victims. The DC announced immediate relief of Rs 50,000 for families whose houses were fully damaged and Rs 10,000 for those with partially damaged homes, sourced from the Red Cross. He also stated that Rs 1.30 lakh per affected family would soon be sanctioned from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to aid rehabilitation.
“We are committed to supporting the victims of this unfortunate incident. Immediate assistance has been sanctioned, and further steps will be taken to ensure their rehabilitation,” the DC assured. He also directed the Municipal Council Baramulla to enroll the affected families under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) for housing assistance.
The role of local youth, civil society members, and traders in firefighting efforts and assisting in evacuation was widely appreciated. Many volunteered alongside the Fire and Emergency Services, preventing further devastation.
Civil society groups and traders have urged the government to expedite the rehabilitation process and provide comprehensive assistance, including compensation for those who lost their livelihoods in the blaze.
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