Ganderbal, Dec 21 (KNO): A massive fire broke out in a Kiryana shop in the Bonzila area of Ganderbal early Saturday morning, completely gutting the establishment and leaving its owner in a state of shock and distress.
The fire broke out around 2:00 am and spread quickly through the shop despite desperate attempts by local residents to contain the flames.
Eyewitnesses, speaking with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), recounted the terrifying scenes, with many locals rushing to the scene to control the blaze. "We tried our best, but the flames were too intense," said Imran Ahmad, a nearby resident. "It was heartbreaking to watch the shop go up in smoke so quickly."
The shop, which served as the sole source of income for its owner, was fully engulfed in flames by the time fire services arrived. The owner, visibly shaken, stood by as firefighters battled the blaze. "This shop was my only source of income," he said. "I don’t know what I will do now. I’m devastated."
Although the cause of the fire remains under investigation, the incident has drawn attention to the lack of adequate fire safety measures in the area.
Local residents have expressed concern about their vulnerability to such disasters. "We need help. Not just for the shop owner, but for the whole community that is affected by this loss," said Muhtaq, a local resident. "It’s a tragedy that could have been prevented if we had better fire safety measures."
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire. The locals have urged the administration to strengthen fire safety protocols in the area—(KNO)