by Jahangir Sofi
SRINAGAR: A devastating fire broke out in the downtown area of Bohri Kadal in Srinagar on Monday, engulfing the historic Bazaar Masjid along with several nearby residential and commercial properties.
Residents said the blaze began on Monday afternoon and quickly spread, causing extensive damage to over 10 houses and three shopping complexes before being brought under control after an intensive effort by fire and emergency services.
A senior fire and emergency official told Kashmir Life that they received the fire incident call at around 3:50 PM, after which they initially deployed 10 fire tenders and eight fire pumps.
The official noted that the rapid spread of the flames was exacerbated by multiple gas cylinder explosions, which intensified the fire and complicated rescue efforts. Residents and fire brigade personnel worked tirelessly to douse the flames.
“The fire resulted in complete damage to one mosque alongside a Darul-Aloom, three commercial complexes, and ten residential houses. Of these, five houses are destroyed, while another five are partially damaged,” the official said.
Preliminary estimates from locals suggest that the loss runs into crores of rupees.
During the operation, six civilians and seven firemen sustained injuries, with two firemen remaining under treatment in the hospital. The official stated that the blaze’s intensity caused severe heat effects, even affecting structures across the street.
Locals mentioned that this incident marks the second fire at the Bazaar Masjid, with the previous blaze damaging only the top story. This time, however, all stories of the mosque were completely gutted.
According to the district administration, Dr Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, was personally monitoring the firefighting and rescue efforts. Expressing solidarity with the affected families, he assured them of immediate assistance. “The District Administration will provide all necessary help to the affected families,” he stated. Dr Bhat also directed officials to assess the damage and provide swift support.
Meanwhile, political leaders and organizations expressed their condolences and called for immediate action. The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC) urged authorities to ensure swift restoration and preservation of the heritage site.
National Conference (NC) leaders, including Party General Secretary Ali Mohammad Sagar and Member of Parliament Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, expressed deep anguish and called for relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti also voiced her shock and urged the government to allocate funds for the mosque’s reconstruction and provide compensation to those affected.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq termed the incident a significant loss, highlighting the community’s hardship as both the historic mosque and several businesses were devastated.
Fire and emergency officials stated that cooling operations continue in the area, while local and district authorities are working to assess the full extent of the damage.
