At least six shops were gutted in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Saturday.
An official said that the fire broke out in the Cooperative Bank unit at 11:30 pm and spread to six adjoining shops.
“Property worth lakhs of rupees was reduced to ashes before the fire could be controlled at around 2 am,” an official said.
Though six shops were gutted, the joint efforts of the Fire Services department, Police, Army and locals averted a major tragedy in the Kupwara market.
The affected shopkeepers demanded the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s administration for timely compensation so that they can resume their business.
Police has registered a case into the incident.