Srinagar: At least 9 tin sheds belonging to 17 families were gutted after an enormous fire erupted along the bypass area of Parimpora in Srinagar on Saturday.
According to eyewitnesses, a massive fire erupted in the tin shed of one Mukhtar Ahmed which quickly spread to the nearby sheds.
They said soon after the fire broke out in the Sheikh Colony, the locals swung into action and tried to douse the fire, however, the fire was enormous and they failed to bring it under control.
The intensity of the fire was such that the affected families lost everything.
“At least 9 big sheds belonging to 17 families were gutted in the fire incident. The belongings of a would-be-bride Muskan daughter of late Muhammad Jamal also gutted in the incident,” said a victim Farooq Ahmed Kaloo to news agency Kashmir News Trust.
“The devastating fire incident rendered hundreds of people homeless. We had no choice but to leave our houses in what we were wearing,” he added.
The Fire and Emergency Department brought the fire under control after rigorous efforts, however, by then more than 9 structures had been gutted down.
Property worth lakhs was destroyed in the blaze but no loss of life was reported.
A police official said that the cause of the fire is being ascertained.
Meanwhile, district administration officials rushed to the spot.
A Revenue official said that the loss is being assessed till then temporary arrangements will be made for the victims. (KNT)