SONAMARG: A devastating fire swept through Sonamarg’s main market on Saturday evening, destroying several shops and establishments. The blaze, which originated in Hotel Sounsar, rapidly spread to adjacent hotels and shops, leaving a trail of destruction and devastation.¹
MLA Kangan, Mian Mehar Ali, has directly blamed CEO Sonamarg for the tragedy, alleging that despite repeated requests to allocate space for a fire station, the CEO failed to take any action. The MLA claimed that he had deliberations with the CEO four to five times, requesting temporary accommodation for Fire & Emergency Services until a permanent building could be constructed. However, the CEO did not heed these pleas, he claimed.
“The CEO Sonamarg is talkative only, but not working on the ground to address the situation. This shows his incompetence. Had he taken steps on time, the losses would have been minimised today,” Mehar Ali said.
The CEO Sonamarg dismissed the allegations, saying, “This is politics. We have nothing to do with politics. We are officers, and we have to behave and act like that.”
Despite the controversy, the MLA has assured shopkeepers, hoteliers and residents that one room will be allocated temporarily for Fire & Emergency Service purposes, and a fire tender will be made available within 7 to 10 days. One kanal of land has already been identified for the purpose of building a permanent fire station.