A large blaze destroyed 13 shops in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district early Sunday, resulting in losses estimated in crores of rupees, officials said. No injuries occurred during the event.
The fire started near 5 am in the main market of Bufliaz village on the Mughal Road. Many of the damaged shops were built from wood and tin sheets, allowing flames to spread quickly.
Residents, along with Army and CRPF members, began efforts to control the fire right away. Personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services Department arrived later to assist.
A department official stated that the blaze was contained within half an hour, limiting additional harm. Initial findings pointed to an electrical short circuit in one shop as the cause, with fire moving rapidly to neighboring units.
Locals voiced frustration over what they called a slow reaction from civil authorities. One affected person noted the lack of a nearby fire station and claimed a tender from Surankote reached more than an hour late.
The person credited Army and CRPF staff for quick action that protected at least four shops. They also said no civil officials came to evaluate damage or provide help.
Traders and residents blamed the slow response for greater destruction and called for a permanent fire station, citing repeated risks from missing infrastructure.
They further asked authorities to assess losses accurately and offer compensation to support rebuilding for families and business owners.
