At least 21 shops were gutted in a major fire in Warnow area of Lolab in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Thursday, causing extensive damage and heavy financial losses to local traders.
Officials said the blaze engulfed three commercial buildings, destroying shops, stock and other property.
The first building had 16 rooms, including eight shops on the ground floor, an agriculture laboratory and two hotel units. Five other rooms were being used as grocery shops, while the eight rooms on the first floor were vacant.
The second building housed a single-storey grocery shop, while the third building contained a grocery shop, a mobile phone shop, a photostat shop and a fertiliser shop.
A total of 21 shops and one motorcycle were damaged in the fire. The blaze reduced commercial establishments and merchandise to ashes, leaving traders with substantial losses.
Tehsildar Lalpora Dr Masroor Gayaas told Greater Kashmir that the administration had begun assessing the damage and would provide assistance to the affected traders under the applicable provisions.
“The cause of the fire and the exact extent of the losses are being assessed,” he said.
National Conference district president Kupwara and Lolab MLA Qaiser Jamsheed Lone visited the affected area and urged the district administration to provide immediate relief and financial assistance to the shopkeepers.
He called for a prompt assessment of losses and timely support to help the traders recover.
Peoples Conference chairman Sajad Gani Lone also expressed grief over the incident and appealed to the government to take immediate steps for rehabilitation of the affected shopkeepers.
