SRINAGAR: A wholesale shop dealing in soft drinks and grocery items was gutted in a pre-dawn fire that broke out in the Chawalgam area of Kulgam district on Thursday, causing substantial damage to stock and infrastructure.
The fire reportedly broke out at around 3 am, prompting an immediate response from the Fire and Emergency Services Department. Firefighters, assisted by local residents, launched an operation to douse the flames and succeeded in preventing the blaze from spreading to adjoining shops and structures.
The owner of the shop, Janan Ahmad Beigh, said that the establishment served as a wholesale distribution outlet for soft drinks and grocery items. He claimed the fire caused losses estimated at around Rs 15 lakh after large quantities of merchandise were destroyed.
Officials said the fire was brought under control after strenuous efforts, while the exact cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained.
No loss of life or injuries were reported in the incident.
Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage, while further investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. [KNT]
