Udhampur, October 23
Around 110 villagers were injured, 40 of them seriously, when a fire broke out in a remote village of Kishtwar district last night.
Entire Margi village, about 120 km from Kishtwar town, with a population of over 1,500, was turned into ashes. Whole population of the village came to roads as all 164 houses of the village were gutted in the fire. Over 60 sheds created for the storage of fodder were also destroyed.
Deputy commissioner, Kishtwar, Inayatullah, while admitting that there was no means of communication with the village, confirmed that over 100 persons had been reportedly injured in the fire, which broke out at midnight. He said the exact figure of the injured would be known after rescue teams reached the spot.
“We have requested the divisional commissioner, Jammu, to hire chopper services to evict the injured as it is impossible to reach the village before tomorrow afternoon”, the deputy commissioner told The Tribune, adding that the higher authorities had decided to contact the Air Force to start rescue operations.
Reports reaching here said the fire broke out at mid night
in Margi village of Wardwan block in Marwah tehsil. Before the people could control the fire, it engulfed the entire hamlet and people helplessly watched their houses gutted. Some people, who were sleeping inside, received severe burns. As the village was located in the remotest area and there was no means of communication, the authorities concerned got the information of the incident only this afternoon when some villagers reached an Army post located near Wardwan. Some teams of the Army were also on their way to the village.
Although exact cause of the incident is yet not known, it is believed that it was an accidental fire. People usually use firewood to keep their houses warm due to severe cold conditions in this belt.
Local MLA Sajjad Kitchloo, who was also on his way to the affected village with a team of medical officer, said conditions of some of the injured were critical. He admitted that there was no communication with the affected people so far. “I have informed the Chief Minister about the incident and requested him to engage a chopper service to rescue the affected people”, he said, demanding a compensation to the tune of Rs 2 lakh for each family.
Leader of the PDP Asgar Ali demanded immediate shelter for the affected families as it was not possible for the people to stay in the open due to severe cold in that area.
