Commercial buildings worth crores gutted in Sonamarg fire

By: Raja Syed Rather

Ganderbal, Feb 8: Atleast 15 to 20 shops at famous tourist destination Sonamarg market including hotels, worth crores were gutted in a devastating fire incident on Saturday evening while as the locals alleged that the fire tenders reached too late at the spot.

As per the details available, the fire broke out from Hotel Sounsar and soon spread to other hotel and shops of Sonamarg market, resulting in damage worth crores.

The locals and traders at Sonamarg market alleged that the fire tenders reached the spot too late, and said the authorities failed to establish a fire services station here.

Notably, dozens of structures including shops and hotels have been gutted in several devastating fire incidents in the past at Sonamarg in which property worth crores was destroyed.

A hotel owner said that for the last decade they have been demanding a fire services station at Sonamarg, adding that despite getting assurances nothing substantial has been done so far.

He said that in the past many devastating fire incidents have taken place at Sonamarg consuming property worth crores, adding that the damage would have been lessened if the fire tenders had been on the spot. —(KNO)