Bandipora, August 30: A massive fire broke out in the remote Tulail area of Gurez in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district, damaging around 20 structures and injuring at least 25 people, including the local Station House Officer (SHO). The blaze was later brought under control after a joint firefighting operation, officials said on Saturday.
The fire erupted in Kashpath Tulail, a border village with poor road connectivity and fragile telecommunication services, which delayed both the flow of information and the initial response. Fire Station Tulail was the first to act, rushing water tenders to the site and drawing water from a nearby source to contain the flames. As the fire spread rapidly, reinforcements from Fire Station Dawar were dispatched under the supervision of Bandipora district authorities.
“Nearly 20 structures were involved in the fire. Our teams from Tulail and Dawar worked tirelessly and finally brought the blaze under control,” a senior officer of the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department said.
Block Medical Officer (BMO) Gurez, Dr. Firoz Iqbal, confirmed that 25 people, including SHO Mir Kazim, sustained injuries. Two, including the SHO, were shifted to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Dawar for treatment. “Their condition is stable and out of danger. The SHO had suffered suffocation-related pain but is now recovering well,” Dr. Iqbal said.
Officials said weak communication networks and the remoteness of the area posed major challenges during firefighting and rescue operations. However, timely reinforcements ensured that the fire did not spread to adjoining habitations.
Army according to locals also played a key role in containing the fire. Army medical team provided medical assistance to the injured.
The exact cause of the fire is yet to be established, while the authorities are assessing the extent of property loss and verifying whether there are more injuries. [KNT]
