SRINAGAR: The National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) has called for suitable measures to prevent fire incidents in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a report by NIDM, densely populated urban areas in the union territory are highly susceptible to urban fire incidents. Particularly, areas such as Gurez, Doda, Kishtwar, and other dilapidated areas face significant risks. Moreover, many urban settlements in Srinagar and Jammu are susceptible to fire accidents.
“The implementation of appropriate mitigation measures is necessary. During dry spells, forest fires are common in the union territory, especially during autumn and the months of May and June. The forest cover in the state spans about 20,230 sq.km., accounting for approximately 19.90% of the total geographical area of the erstwhile state (including Ladakh UT). Some highly fire-prone districts in the UT include Ramban, Kishtwar, Udhampur, Reasi, Samba, Doda, Kathua, Srinagar, and Kupwara,” states the report.
According to the Fire Statistical Data of Kashmir from 2015 to 2021, there have been a total of 19,407 fire incidents resulting in 403 human casualties, 355 injuries, and damage to 18,362 structures, shops, vehicles, and electric transformers.
The report highlights that urban fires are a recurring phenomenon, primarily in the city of Srinagar. It mentions a devastating fire in the 18th century AD that engulfed Mohalla Malchimar in Safakadal, destroying 40,000 houses across twenty adjacent Mohallas.
Furthermore, the report recounts a tragic incident in 1993 when a fire broke out in Lal Chowk, Srinagar, claiming the lives of 125 people. The blaze consumed 59 houses, 190 small shops, 59 stores, 5 large commercial buildings, 2 office buildings, 2 schools, and a shrine.
Additional incidents mentioned in the report include the destruction of the 200-year-old Dastageer Sahib shrine in the old city in June 2012, the burning of 52 houses and cowsheds in Frislan, located on the periphery of Pahalgam village in November 2012, the loss of 24 houses and several domestic animals in Kishtwar district in February 2013, a major fire outbreak in the annex of the Civil Secretariat (the seat of the Jammu and Kashmir government) in June 2013, and a fire in Jammu’s Neelam hotel in May 2014 resulting in 4 deaths and dozens of injuries.
In 2017 alone, a total of 2,938 fire incidents led to the loss of 38 lives and Rs 64.33 crores worth of property damage. These incidents affected 2,596 structures across Kashmir.(KNO)
