Kupwara: As many as 12 shops were gutted completely while a residential house suffered partial damage in a mysterious blaze which broke out in Khurhama area of Lolab in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district in the intervening night of Monday-Tuesday.

Officials said that the fire broke out in one of the shops and damaged 12 other shops completely.

They said that a residential house was also partially damaged in the fire incident, resulting in damages to the goods worth lakhs.

The police officials of Kuligam Lolab Police post led by SDPO Rafiq Ahmad rushed to the spot and joined fire tenders to douse the flames, a police spokesman said.

The fire was brought under control after almost two hours, officials said.  “The cause of fire is yet to be ascertained and investigation is going on,” police said.

Naib Tehsildar Khurhama Aijaz Ahmad Khan told ‘Kashmir Vision’ that fire broke out from one of the shops around 11:45 pm in main market and engulfed the adjacent shops of Mubashir Ahmad Mir, son of Sanaulla Mir.

He said that the residential house belonging to Habibullah Sheikh, son of Aziz Sheikh suffered partial damage in the fire incident.

Meanwhile, locals of Khurhama hailed Police and Army for their assistance.

Locals also sought immediate disbursement of relief from government for the fire victims and demanded that it should be distributed directly to the affected shopkeepers.

Guest