Two houseboats were gutted in a fire incident in Nigeen Lake on Sunday night.
The damaged houseboats are Ponex and Perfume. Reports said fire started from a houseboatand engulfed adjoining houseboat.
“A distress call was received around 1:38 am andimmediately men and machinery was rushed to spot, said Bashir Ahmad, JointDirector Fire and Emergency Services.
He said the fire was brought control before it could damagenearby structures. ‘The cooling operation went on for several hours,” hesaid.
Police has registered case and taken up investigation.
Meanwhile, Nigeen Tourist Traders Association (NTTA) has demandedfinancial assistance to the affected houseboat owners.
“The two houseboats alongwith whole infrastructureincluding wood carved furniture, carpets, crockery and other valuables whichthe houseboat owners had accumulated over the decades of their service to thetourism industry. The fire incident has rendered the houseboat owners and theirfamilies in a desperate situation due to this immense loss of their property.
NTTA appeals Governor to direct the concerned authorities toprovide immediate financial assistance to the affected houseboat owners besidessubsidized timber to enable them to restore the houseboats,” Chairman NTTAManzoor Ahmad Wangoo said in a statement.
“NTTA also reiterates its long pending demand of thehouseboat owners for setting up on war footing basis a comprehensive firefighting facility in Nigeen and Dal Lake to prevent damage to houseboats incase of any eventuality,” Wangnoo added.