Srinagar: Two scrap collectors from Delhi were killed after a massive fire engulfed around 80 temporary shelters in the Durbal area of Bemina on the outskirts of Srinagar during the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.
The deceased have been identified as Mohammad Noor Alam, 27, son of Abdul Wahab, and Al Ameen, 16, son of Mohammad Rafi. Both were natives of Delhi and were working as scrap collectors in the area.
According to officials, the fire broke out around 12:23 am and rapidly spread through the cluster of makeshift shelters, most of which were constructed from tarpaulin and wood.
An empty poultry farm and a tipper were also damaged in the blaze.
Fire and Emergency Services teams from JVC and Rawalpora fire stations, along with reinforcements from the department’s headquarters at Batamaloo, were rushed to the spot to bring the fire under control. Police personnel and local residents also joined the firefighting efforts.
An official said the fire had already engulfed the area by the time the department received information about the incident. After the flames were brought under control, two bodies were recovered from the debris.
The bodies were handed over to the police after completion of forensic science laboratory (FSL) proceedings.
The blaze destroyed around 80 temporary shelters, causing extensive damage to the settlement used by scrap collectors for their livelihood and accommodation. The extent of the overall property loss is yet to be assessed.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and further details regarding the incident are awaited.
