Srinagar: Three family members were burnt in a house blaze in Srinagar’s downtown on Friday night, the tragedy leading to public anger against the fire and emergency department’s delay in reaching the spot.
A couple, along with their 4-year-old daughter, were burnt in the congested neighbourhood of Khanyar’s Sheshgari Mohalla. The only survivor left is their 8-year-old daughter, who is still in dark about the tragedy. The deceased have been identified as Javid Ahmad Hakak, his wife Sofiya Javid, and their youngest daughter, Hafsa Javid.
Remnants of burnt quilts, trunks, wooden logs at the old three-storied house tell of the horror that engulfed it. The storage trunks, which were full of belongings, were lying open on one side of the lane outside the house. Most of those family belongings had turned into charcoal and ashes.
According to eyewitness in the neighbourhood, the incident occurred at around 1am on Friday. Hakak was living as a tenant at the house as his own house, in the same locality, was under construction.
“When fire engulfed the house, we went there and saw their eldest daughter in the premises,” said Mubashir Ahmad, an eyewitness.
“She was crying continuously. When we asked her who brought you down, she replied ‘my mother’. After that we were searching for the parents but we didn’t find them. We were continuously shouting their names but didn’t receive any response,” he said.
Locals said they found the bodies only when the fire had been brought under control. They complained that the fire and emergency department responded too late to the distress call.
“We called the fire station at Babademb but they did not receive the call. I personally visited there, after which they arrived at the spot half an hour later,” locals said.
According to neighbours, Hakak was not in good health for many years and his wife Sofiya was running the house, earning the family livelihood as a worker at an Anganwadi centre.
Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Department, Bashir Ahmad Shah, however, told Kashmir Reader that a distress message was received at 1:33 am in Batamaloo headquarters, after which they called the nearby station and informed them about the incident.
He said that the message was conveyed to two nearby fire stations, one in Babademb and the other in Rainawari. “This was an old house, which is the main reason it caught fire quickly. We cannot say the cause of fire as of now. Police are investigating the case,” Shah said.
A police officer said that the cause of the fire apparently was electric short circuit. He said the cause of fire would be known for certain after the probe is completed.
The district administration Srinagar announced Rs 15 lakh compensation in favour of next of kin of the deceased.
District Development Commissioner Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said that the amount would be deposited in the account of the girl, Sobiya Javid, who lost her parents and sister in the fire.
The government will also bear the cost of her education and other living expenses, he said.
As per the procedure, the relief amount would be deposited in a joint account of the girl and the DC. The money along with interest would be given to the girl after she attains the age of 18 years.

NAZIMA SIDIQ