Srinagar: Property worth lakhs of rupees was completely destroyed in a mysterious blaze in Srinagar which took place around Sehri (pre-dawn meals time during holy Ramzan) on Monday.
The incident took place just opposite world famous Mughal gardens of Shalimar – a major tourist destination in Srinagar – and the blaze was seen across the Dal lake through the night when the faithful were coming out of Masjids in Dargah Hazratbal.
Dargah Hazratbal and Mughal gardens are situated opposite to each other across the lake.
A police official posted in the area said that they were informed about the blaze around 3:30 in the morning when people were done with their pre-dawn meals.
“We rushed to spot and called fire tenders,” he said, “it took us at least half an hour to douse the flames.”
Station House Officer (SHO) Harwan Police Station, Zafar Iqbal told the FreePressKashmir that around twelve shops made of tin were destroyed in the blaze.
Shalimar area comes under the jurisdiction of Harwan Police Station.
“The shops are no concrete,” Iqbal said. “They were constructed of tin and ply boards.”
A local of the area said that the shops housed property worth lakhs of rupees. “Five to six shops have been completely destroyed,” he said.
The police official said that shops housed Kashmir arts, hotels, photography shops, tea shops and ice cream shops.
“There is no permission to construct concrete buildings at the spot of incident,” the cop said.
He added that a fire incident report has been registered and investigations started.
“The cause of the fire seems short circuit or gas cylinder blasts,” the SHO opined, “but only investigations will get the truth out.”
When asked about the worth of the property lost, the SHO declined to comment. “I can’t say it,” he replied.
