At least 40 shops, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Camp office, a residential structure and three government buildings were gutted in a massive blaze at the main market Bhatyas in Bhalessa area of district Doda last night, police sources said

They said that property worth millions of rupees was reduced to ashes but no one was seriously injured in the devastating fire that broke out around midnight.

“We informed the fire tenders at Thathri and Gandoh simultaneously as Bhatyas market is at equal distance of 16 kms from both the stations. The dousing operation with the help of locals was started at 12:30 AM,” a police official said.

“The fire could be controlled only at 5:30 AM but by then 45 structures got completely damaged in the devastating fire as most of the structures were made of dry cedar and pine wood,” a local who was part of the firefighting team said.

Meanwhile, police said that they are investigating the case.

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