Fire guts house, cattle shed

A double-storied house was reduced to ashes Monday evening after a fire broke out in it, here in Dessa area of Doda, while eighteen animals were charred to death when a cattle shed in Bhaderwah caught fire on Monday morning.

Reports from Dessa said that Amar Chand and his family, residents of Shikhli village, were sitting in a room in front of the traditional fire place (bukhari), when they realized that their house was on fire. “Rushing out for safety, they raised an alarm. Their neighbours and other locals tried to douse the flames, but failed,” reports added.

   

Later, a joint team from police post Dessa and Doda reached the spot. Fire tenders could not reach the village as it is 7 km from motorable road.

“According to preliminary investigations, the fire seems to have originated from the fire place. As the area is not electrified, there is no chance of short circuit. The structure was made of dry cedar wood that is why the fire spread rapidly and could not be controlled immediately,” Ravinder Pal Singh, superintendent of police, operations, Doda, said, adding that the fire started at about 4.45 pm and within two hours, the entire structure was reduced to ashes.

There were no reports of loss of life or injury in the incident.

Meanwhile, eighteen cattle were burnt alive after fire engulfed an animal shed in Gajoth village in Bhaderwah area.

At least 15 goats, two bulls and a horse were charred to death.

Munir Khan, station house officer, Bhaderwah, said, “According to preliminary investigations, the fire originated from fire place of the cattle shed around mid-night and soon engulfed the structure.”

Locals and policemen put out the blaze around 7am, according to the eyewitnesses.

The fire also gutted two rooms adjoining the cattle shed of the owner, Tirath Ram.

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