Bhaderwah Dec 17: In a major fire incident that erupted in Karal Mohalla locality of Puneja village in J&K’s Bhaderwah, four residential houses belonging to Raj Mohd, Abdul Shakoor, Abdul Qayoom and Jan Mohd were gutted.
Although fire tenders could not reach the Puneja village immediately which is just 7-km away from the town but the incident site is located at hill top 1-km from motorable road.
SDPO Bhaderwah Naveed Qazi who was supervising the fire extinguishing operation said that despite being located 1-km uphill from the motorable road, the fire has been brought under control.
Locals along with police and fire tenders did a commendable job and risked their lives to bring the rapidly spreading fire under control, but till then four houses got gutted in the fire.
The cause of the fire is not known yet while locals alleged that the fire could have been controlled easily and property worth crores saved if there would have been a motorable road to the village which has a population of about 1500 people.
“I noticed the flames coming from the top floor and due to wind the fire rapidly spread to the adjoining houses, although we informed fire tenders immediately but it took them one hour to trek the hill and reach the incident site,” said Mohd Iqbal, an eye witness.
“If there would have been a motorable road to the village, there would have been a minimum loss. Still we are thankful to SDPO and his team who risked their life to douse the flames,” Iqbal added.
“We are a meager vote bank for the politicians and only get promises which always turn fake, the motorable road could have saved the homes of poor but there is no one to listen to our miseries instead every time we get lame excuses,” Siad Durga Devi, a resident of Puneja.
