A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of the morning, gutting several sale depots and joinery mills in the Harnag area of Khanabal in south Kashmir’s Anantnag. It has left a trail of destruction and chaos.
Eyewitness said that the scene was ‘’Apocalyptic” was the term used to express the scene when the flames, having started at about 3 a.m., began to spread fast and consume everything in their way. Flames were so huge they could be seen from some distance, with explosions and crackling of wood clearly audible.
Firefighters of the Anantnag Fire Department rushed to the spot, but the narrow roads and jammed area hampered their movement.
Notwithstanding that, the best possible efforts of the firefighters could not prevent several buildings from being reduced to ashes leading to huge damage to property and goods.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, though officials believe it could either be from a short circuit or from a gas line break. Fortunately, there have been no reports of casualties, but the owners of the various businesses have lost a lot.
The district administration has promised support to the victims of the fire and ordered an inquiry into the incident. The incident has raised many questions over the safety measures in the industrial areas and regular checking in order to avert such incidents.
The estimated loss is yet being ascertained and preliminary reports suggest it will run into lakhs.
The local business community expressed shock over the incident and many demanded better fire safety arrangements in place to avert such mishaps in future.
