Cold store gutted, property worth crores turns into ashes

Smoke billowing out of a cold store which caught fire at Narwal on Wednesday.-Excelsior/ Rakesh
Smoke billowing out of a cold store which caught fire at Narwal on Wednesday.-Excelsior/ Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 22: A devastating inferno broke out in a cold store at Narwal early this morning, which turned property worth several crores of rupees into ashes.
The devastating fire broke out in Bahu Cold Storage and Ice Factory owned by Raman Gupta of Gandhi Nagar at Fruit Market, Narwal early this morning.
As the smoke started billowing out of the building, police personnel deployed at the Narwal police post led by SI Nayat Ali immediately rushed to the spot and informed the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Within shortest possible time, fire fighters rushed to the spot and launched operation to douse the flames. It took around 18 hours to the fire fighters to douse the flames, but till then the four floors of the building had completed been damaged.
According to an eyewitness, the fire started from ground floor of the building and within minutes, the fire engulfed the entire building.
Police sources said that no casualty or injury has been reported in the incident, while the exact loss could be ascertained after investigation completes.
“During preliminary investigation, it came to fore that the property worth several crores got gutted in this devastating fire, sources said, adding that had the fire extinguisher been installed in the building, the tragedy could have been prevented.
A case under relevant Sections has been registered at Trikuta Nagar Police Station and investigation started.
Minister for Horticulture, Culture, Youth Services and Sports Raman Bhalla, Divisional Commissioner Jammu, DC Jammu and SSP Jammu Uttam Chand along with other senior officials also visited the site.
A spokesman of Department of Fire and Emergency Services said that around 100 fire tenders from different fire stations were pressed into service to douse the flames. After day long efforts, fire fighters managed to douse the flames late tonight, he added.

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