In the early hours today, a massive fire broke out among the houseboats situated along Ghat no. 09 in Dal Lake, Srinagar. Tragically, this incident resulted in the loss of three lives belonging to Bangladesh and left a path of devastation.
Originating in one of the houseboats, the fire rapidly expanded, engulfing a total of five, namely Safeena, Sabreena, Young Gulshan, Lala Rukh, and Khar Palace. The flames also devoured seven residential huts and nearby houses, painting a landscape of utter devastation.
Identified as victims of the fire were three tourists from Bangladesh—Anindaya Kowshal, Das Gupta, and Mohammad Moinud—who had been residing in houseboat Safeena. Despite diligent efforts to contain the inferno, the relentless intensity of the fire tragically claimed the lives of these unfortunate tourists, as confirmed by a police spokesman.
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However, the swift and courageous response from the joint efforts of Srinagar Police, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Tourist Police, Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES), and civilians led to the successful rescue and evacuation of eight individuals who were staying in the affected houseboats. Their timely intervention prevented further loss of life.
An official fire incident report has been filed with the local police station (PS RM Bagh), and an investigation into the cause of the fire has been initiated.
