A devastating fire gutted at least 46 shops, restaurants, and small hotels in the tourist resort of Sonamarg in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district on Saturday night. The fire that originated from Hotel Sounsar, located in the main market, spread to adjacent shops and restaurants, destroying property worth crores of rupees. Situation worsened as there was no fire service station nearby and the locals were the first ones to act upon this disaster.
“This incident has reduced at least 46 shops to ashes. It’s really unfortunate,” said G.M. Bhat, Chief Executive Officer of the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA). Kangan MLA Mehar Ali visited the site to assess the damage and pledged comprehensive assistance to those affected. “This is my family. Until they have their structures back, we will not back down,” he said, emphasizing ongoing discussions with the Chief Minister’s office to secure compensation.
Ali pointed out that all the shopkeepers were without any insurance. Divisional commissioner SDA on insurance processes besides assured the registered to rebuild at least a two-storey edifice. Taking a dig over the SDA’s failure over installing a fire service station by this time: he said that it is ‘It is sad to see without any fire station service in Kangan’.
CEO Bhat claimed that they have been looking to build a fire service station since 2021, but never floated a tender. He agrees that a fire station is absolutely necessary as has already been illustrated by the series of earlier fires which reflected already the danger in safety.
The Divisional Commissioner, while visiting the area, asked for a Fire Safety Audit of all establishments in Sonamarg to avoid any future risk. He also assured the community that the administration is committed to enhancing the infrastructure of fire safety, and already plans are underway for a permanent fire service station.
