At least four shops, residential complex and a car went up in flames in Malik Pura market of Gandoh tehsil in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir in a devastating blaze on Friday.Reports said that property worth millions was reduced to ashes in the fire that erupted in the wee hours.The fire completely destroyed four shops and a residential complex belonging to Mohd Hanief S/O Ghulam Mohd Malik, Altaf Hussain S/O Abdul Gani Malik and Abdul Aziz S/O Ghulam Mohd - all residents of Tilogda Bhalessa.One Alto car JK06-9781 of Wasim Akhter parked near the complex was also damaged in the fire. Two adjoining shops and a residential complex were partially burnt in the devastating fire.Police along with locals reached the spot within 30 minutes and doused the flames. Later, fire tenders also joined us.
As of now, fire has been completely extinguished and we are assessing the losses," said SDPO Gandoh, Sunny Gupta. He said that police has taken the cognizance of fire incident and started investigations.“Preliminary reports suggest that short circuit caused the fire,” he added.Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad expressed grief over the tragic fire incident.He expressed sympathy towards the affected families and requested the divisional and district administration to provide immediate help and support to all those affected due the devastating blaze.Expressing their deep sympathies with the families who lost their house and shops in the tragic fire accident, other Congress leaders including legislator Inderwal GM Saroori asked District Development Commissioner (DDC) Doda to carry out relief and rehabilitation measures for the victims. (CNS)