20 fire tenders battle seven-hour blaze in srinagar; hospital patients evacuated safely

• Director F&ES praises personnel for courage and teamwork as crews prevent fire from spreading to adjoining Medicare Hospital

SRINAGAR: Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES) personnel battled a major blaze for nearly seven hours at Mir Sales Corporation, Kaka Sarai, Karan Nagar, during the intervening night of October 24 and 25, deploying 20 fire tenders from approximately 12 fire stations.

The fire caused extensive damage to commercial and adjoining residential-cum-commercial structures. Crews brought it under control at around 5:30 a.m. on October 25, containing the blaze within the affected premises and preventing it from spreading to the adjoining six-storeyed Medicare Hospital.

Alok Kumar, Director, F&ES, Jammu & Kashmir, praised the personnel for their prompt, courageous and coordinated response. He said their sustained efforts, alongside the precautionary evacuation of hospital patients, helped avert a more serious incident.

Given the intensity of the fire and the risk to nearby buildings, firefighting resources were mobilised from F&ES Headquarters and stations across Srinagar and adjoining areas. The operation was conducted under Kumar’s supervision and guidance, with Deputy Director, F&ES Command Srinagar, Dr. Aqib Hussain Mir, leading the ground response.

The fire engulfed four commercial structures and a large iron shed containing furnishing materials, polythene, tarpaulins and other combustible items. Despite the difficult conditions and highly inflammable materials, teams worked through the night to contain the blaze and limit further damage.

Prioritising human safety, F&ES personnel coordinated with J&K Police, SDRF and other responding agencies to evacuate patients from Medicare Hospital. All patients were safely evacuated. The coordinated response also helped protect the adjoining hospital and nearby properties from direct fire damage.

Kumar commended the officers and personnel for their professionalism, courage, teamwork and sustained efforts, particularly their firefighting operations, the safe evacuation of patients and their efforts to prevent the fire from spreading.

He reiterated the department’s commitment to providing prompt and effective emergency services and safeguarding lives and property across Jammu & Kashmir. He also acknowledged the cooperation of J&K Police, SDRF and other agencies. The operation reflected the dedication of F&ES personnel to the department’s motto: “We Serve to Save.”