Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, June 21: Property worth lakhs was reduced to ashes, as two houses along with house- hold items were totally gutted in major fire incident in Jakhed area of tehsil Latti, in Dudu Sub Division today.
Sub Divisional Magistrate, Dudu, Pardeep Singh Chib said that the house of SPO, Mohd Sharief and his real brother, Khlid Hussain, residents of Gursal (Jakhed), suddenly caught fire at around 11.45 am today. Though cause of fire could not be ascertained immediately, but it was believed that fire may be caused due to suspected short-circuit.
As the houses were mainly made of wood, both these adjoining structures were engulfed by huge flames within no time. The local villagers and family members tried to douse the fire using water buckets but could not even succeed in saving some goods. A cattle-shed was also totally burnt but all the cattle at that time were out grazing in the fields.
SDM further said that Fire Services vehicle from Chenani, covering about 70 kms of distance reached at the site after three hours and by then both the houses had been reduced to ashes. He said the condition of road is worst and it takes long time to travel. Moreover, there was urgent need of Fire Station at Latti tehsil headquarters, Chib said.
Meanwhile, local Sarpanches and BDC members of Dudu- Latti area claimed that property could have been saved today, if Government had established a Fire Station in this far- flung area. They claimed that many such incidents often occur in the area but Government seems to be insensitive to such incidents and damage to the public property.
Follow our WhatsApp channel