Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Apr 15: At least 27 shops, eight residential structures and several vendor huts were gutted in a major fire, which broke out in Gandoh main market.
There are no reports of anyone getting hurt in the incident.
The fire broke out in Gandoh main market, barely 500 meters from the police station, and spread quickly before sunrise to all adjoining shops and houses, which are mostly made of dry cedar and pine wood.
Local residents and police personnel swung into action and started dousing the flames.
“The fire was noticed by a patrolling team of police and the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at 1.45 am. They raised an alarm and informed the fire department”, said Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Gandoh, Sunny Gupta.
“The fire tenders could reached the spot at 3.30 am as the nearest fire station is located at Thathri, 45 km from Gandoh”, he added. Due to the efforts of firemen several other structures were saved, said Assistant Director Fire and Emergency Services Doda.
“After hectic efforts of several hours, the fire was brought under control. 27 shops, eight residential structures and several vendor shops, all belonging to local residents, were destroyed”, the officer said, adding that the damage caused was being assessed.
There was no loss of life or injury caused to anyone in the incident, he said.
The residential structure damaged in the fire belonged to Din Mohammad Dar, son of Lala Dar of Shallah, Shamas Din, son of Mohammad Shahban Dar of Shallah, Alaf Din Kohli, son of Karim Baksh of Trithloo, Abdul Latief, son of Faqir Ali of Dhadkaie, Abdul Qayoom, son of Lassa Batt of Gandoh, Bashir Ahmed, son of Ghulam Hussain of Dharawary, Mohammad Sharief, son of Mohammad Ramzan of Dharawary and Tek Chand, son of Sham Singh of Dharawary.
The shops damaged in the inferno were taken on rent by Kuldeep Kumar Gupta of Udhampur, at present Gandoh, Bashir Ahmed, son of Ghulam Hussain of Dharawary, Toseef Ahmed, son of Tariq Hussain of Shallah, Mohammad Sharief, son of Mohammad Ramzan of Dharawary, Mohammad Hanief, son of Shamas Din of Dalline, Mehar Chand, son of Balkrishan of Trithloo, Manir Ahmed, son of Din Mohammad of Shallah, Jalal Ahmed, son of Naarullah Sheikh of Dharawary, Abdul Rehman, son of Gulla Sheikh of Dalline, Rahid Ameen, son of Mohammad Ameen of Manoie, Nisar Ahmed, son of Mohammad Ramzan of Dharawary, Azmat Ali, son of Hatim Hussain of Dhadkaie, Mohammad Rafiq, son of Mohammad Yousuf of Dhadkaie, Koushal Kumar, son of Nek Ram of Pora, Surinder, son of Bishamber of Bharghi, Jinder Kumar, son of Roshan Lal of Kandoloo, Mohammad Saleem, son of Nazir Ahmed of Trithloo, Mohammad Rayees, son of Abdul Rehman of Uttar Pradesh, at present Gandoh, Mohammad Shafi, son of Mohammad Yousuf of Kandoloo, Javaid Iqbal of Uttar Pradesh, at present Gandoh, Ghulam Mohammad, son of Ghulam Hussain of Gandoh, Imtiyaz Hussain, son of Mohammad Rafiq Ganie of Gandoh, Balwant Singh, son of Devi Chand of Batara, Shabir Ahmed, son of Shamasdin of Dharawary, Said Din, son of Showket Ali of Dharawary, Mehboob Ahmed, son of Tariq Hussain of Shallah and Akhter Hussain, son of Ghulam Qadir of Shallah.
Gandoh police have started investigation into the incident and preliminary reports suggest that the fire started probably due to a short circuit.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti has expressed grief over the fire incident at Gandoh market. Chief Minister has directed the Doda district administration to extend all possible help to the fire victims by way of temporary shelters and items of daily usage.
Former Chief Minister Jammu and Kashmir and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad has also expressed shock and grief over this tragic fire incident.
He has expressed sympathy towards the affected families and instructed the divisional and district administration to provide immediate help and support to all affected people due the devastating blaze.
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