Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Nov 25: A major fire in South Kashmir’s remote village destroyed 46 structures in the wee hours today.
Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Farooq Ahmad Shah, while giving details said that the fire broke out at around 3 a.m. at village Frislan in Pahalgam area of Anantnag district and quickly engulfed the nearby houses damaging 46 structures.
Fire tenders reached the village but not before major damage was caused. Around 15 fire tenders fought the flames and doused them at around 6 a.m. The houses, mostly made of wood, were completely gutted in the fire.
There was no report of any loss of human life. However, over two dozen cattle perished in the blaze.
The cause of fire is being said to be charcoal that was stored by a villager in his house for winter. In Kashmiri villages, charcoal is being stored for heating and cooking purposes during the winter months.
Shah said that cash relief of Rs 10,000 was distributed among each family out of Red Cross Fund, while as Rs 40,000 to each family would be provided at an earliest. He said that the sufferers will be provided free ration for two months and besides this, IAY cases will also be sanctioned in favour of the fire victims for speedy construction of houses.
Shah said that the district administration will also provide the victims temporary housing till they construct their own houses. He said that Department of Forests will supply timber from next week to the victims for early construction of the houses. “Two water tankers shall remain available in the village while as electric transformer will be installed within a day’s time to restore the electricity”, he added.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has expressed deep sorrow over the fire incident and sent a team of Ministers and officers comprising Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmed and Minister for Social Welfare, Sakina Itoo to visit the spot, meet the affected families and assess the loss to the property.
The Ministers while expressing sympathy with the sufferers assured them every possible support from the Government for their rehabilitation.
The Ministers on the occasion directed the district administration to constitute of team of officers for monitoring the rehabilitation work in the said village.
The opposition People’s Democratic Party president, Mahbooba Mufti along with MLA Pahalgam Rafi Mir visited Frislana expressed and sympathies with the families. She also emphasized on the Government to go beyond routine scale fixed for such losses and provide generous financial assistance to the affected families.
Mehbooba urged the district administration to ensure hassle free transportation of timber, tin sheets and other building material to the village so that re building process could be started urgently.
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