The fire related incidents have seen the death of 230 people and property worth Rs 250 crore damaged in Kashmir since 2018, reveal official figures accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Figures available with the KNO suggest that in 2018, the Fire and Emergency department Kashmir received 2790 fire calls. “The year 2018 saw deaths of 64 people in various fire related incidents while 11 persons sustained injuries. 1800 structures, 50 shopping complexes, 59 vehicles and 216 electric transformers were damaged in the year 2018,” the figures reveal, adding that “In year 2019, the department received 1841 calls while 45 persons lost lives and eight people were injured. The year also saw damage of 1409 structures, 72 vehicles and 46 shopping complexes while 91 electric transformers also were damaged in the fire.”
The data states that in 2020, the FED received 2373 fire calls and the year saw the death of 64 persons in fire related incidents across the Valley. “In 2020, 1578 structures, 39 shopping complexes, and 73 vehicles got damaged in fire related incidents while 145 electric transformers got damaged. From 2019 to 2020, property worth Rs 188 Crores suffered damage in fire incidents,” the data suggests.
In the ensuing year (2021) FED department received 1929 fire calls. “The ensuing year saw 65 deaths in fire related incidents in the ensuing year while property worth Rs 64 Crore got damaged,” the data states.
Deputy Director Fire and Emergency department Kashmir Bashir Ahmed Shah told KNO that majority of fire incidents take place in the month of November which is a “harvest season” when people would keep the harvest nearer to the residential houses which become the reason for the fire.
“November month, apart from being harvest season, also pushes people to store coal, kerosene, and gas in their homes in view of harsh winters. Every year, new vehicles are added to the fleet of the Fire and Emergency department. This year, 50 new vehicles were added since last one year to replace old ones,” he said.
He urged people to cooperate with the officials of FED when they are on job to douse the flames as engaging officials in arguments and quarrels as that leads to wastage of time and spreads fire—(KNO)