SRINAGAR: Fire incidents in Kashmir valley since 2016 have seen 252 persons lose their lives with 103 persons having been injured in the different fire incidents across the valley.
The data provided by Fire and Emergency Services of Kashmir has shown that since 2016-2021 the fires have also caused property losses worth 3,539.3 crores during this time while the department has been able to save property worth 3,189.63 crores property has been saved by the department.
The department during this time has 13,691 fire calls from the year 2016 to February 2021 across the Kashmir Valley and during the same time period, 89 rescue calls were received and handled while 171 false rescue calls were also dealt by the department.
The data said the highest number of fire calls has been received by the fire and emergency services department 3,548 in the year 2016 and the lowest number of fire calls 1812 in the year 2019.
Similarly in the year 2017, the department has received 2914 fire calls, while in 2018 2741 fire calls were received while 2336 such calls were received in 2020This year 340 fire calls from January- February have been received and responded by the department.
The data said that the highest number of people have lost their lives in various fire incidents across the Kashmir valley in the year 2018 and 2020 in both the years 64 persons in 2018 and 64 in the year 2020. The lowest number of people has lost their lives in the year 2016 only 37 people.
Similarly, 38 people have lost their lives in the year 2017, 45 persons in 2019, and four persons from January to February 2021.The figures said that from the year 2016- February 2021 103 people have got injured in various fire incidents across Kashmir.
The data said that from 2016- February 2021 432 vehicles and 750 electric transformers have been damaged in the various fire incidents across the Valley.
In the first two months of this year, 2021 January and February 215.19 crores property have been involved in various fire incidents across the Valley, in which 10.14 crores property have been damaged and 205.05 crores have been saved by the department.
An official from the Fire and Emergency Services department told the Kashmir Reader that the department is receiving most of the fire calls from various parts of the valley in the main fire headquarters at Srinagar
“The people should always call the nearest fire station. So, the fire tenders can reach the spot on proper time and can also save the property which is getting involved in the fire incidents,” the official said.
He added that people should always cooperate with the fire department. So, that the department can fulfill their duty in the emergency times.

ARIF RASHID