Fire destroys eight houses, cowsheds in remote J&K village

Kishtwar: At least eight houses and several cowsheds were gutted in a major fire that broke out in a remote village in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district early Wednesday, officials said. No casualties were reported.

The fire broke out at a house in Mungli village in the Warwan area shortly after midnight and quickly spread to nearby structures.

Local residents attempted to control the blaze, using earth movers to demolish parts of the affected houses and create a firebreak to prevent the flames from spreading further.

As there is no fire station in Warwan, fire tenders were summoned from Kokernag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The blaze was brought under control at around 4 am, officials said.

Some livestock died in the fire. The exact number could not be immediately determined as a detailed assessment was not possible during the night. Parts of the affected area continued to smoulder and remained under observation.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established.

The local administration has begun assessing the extent of the damage and the relief required. A relief vehicle is also being arranged from the district headquarters, officials said.

Fire incidents are relatively common in the remote Warwan region during winter, when residents traditionally store large quantities of dry grass and other fodder for livestock.

Officials have repeatedly advised residents against storing dry grass inside or close to residential buildings, warning that it can help flames spread rapidly.

Government and religious institutions have also been used to circulate safety advisories urging residents to take precautions while storing dry fodder, officials said.