Kupwara, Jan 3 (JKNS): A fierce fire erupted in a double-storied residential house at Malik Mohalla in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Saturday, causing extensive damage to the upper floor and attic, officials said.
Officials told news agency JKNS that the Fire & Emergency Control Room received the distress call at around 12:21 pm, following which fire tenders from Fire Station Kupwara and Fire Station Payirpora were mobilised immediately within a minute.
They said the responding fire engines encountered heavy traffic congestion on Hospital Road, resulting in a brief delay. Upon reaching the location, teams found that the narrow approach road made it impossible for fire tenders to access the house directly.
Despite the constraints, fire personnel laid seven hose lines to channel water to the site. However, firefighting operations were further hampered when some locals allegedly interfered by forcibly pulling hoses, disrupting the connection of delivery lines, the officials said.
A total of four fire tenders were deployed, and due to sustained and coordinated efforts by the fire crews, the blaze was eventually brought under control, preventing it from spreading to adjoining structures.
Meanwhile, the Fire and Emergency Services, Kupwara, issued a detailed clarification, strongly refuting allegations circulating on social and digital media that claimed a delayed response by the department.
Dismissing claims of intentional delay, the department termed such allegations as “baseless and misleading,” asserting that the response was swift and professional despite challenges such as traffic bottlenecks, restricted access, and public interference.
Officials confirmed that the fire severely damaged the second floor and attic portion of the house. No loss of life or injuries were reported in the incident.
The Fire and Emergency Services appealed to media organisations, social media users, and the public to avoid spreading unverified information and advised journalists to seek official clarification from the department’s Media Cell or the State Fire Control Room before publishing reports.
Reiterating their commitment to public safety, the department urged citizens to cooperate during emergency situations to ensure effective and timely rescue operations. (JKNS)
