SRINAGAR: A minor fire broke out on Sunday at Royal Girls Hostel in Rajbagh, Srinagar, officials said, caused by an overheated electric blanket.
The State Fire Control Room at Batamaloo received an emergency call, and a fire tender from Fire Station Gowkadal was immediately dispatched. Firefighters found the blaze in a room on the second floor of the four-storey hostel building.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the electric blanket left switched on caused bedding and a mattress to catch fire. Hostel staff promptly used fire extinguishers to contain the flames, preventing them from spreading further. Fire personnel later doused the remaining fire and conducted cooling operations to ensure safety.
One minor injury was reported, and damage was limited to bedding and the mattress. Officials praised the quick response of the hostel management in averting a larger disaster.
The Fire and Emergency Services department urged the public to avoid using low-quality electrical appliances and to never leave devices unattended to prevent similar incidents in the future.
