Jammu, Jan 2: Five houses were destroyed and two people injured after a fire, reportedly caused by an LPG cylinder blast, broke out in the remote Thachna village of Kishtwar district, Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Friday.
The blaze started late Thursday in a single home and quickly spread to neighboring houses. District administration teams, police, army, and fire services, assisted by local residents, launched a coordinated operation to control the flames. Fire tenders were deployed to the remote area, and LPG cylinders from nearby homes were removed to prevent further escalation.
Deputy Commissioner of Kishtwar, Pankaj Sharma, who oversaw the operation, said the fire was brought under control after several hours. “Four to five houses were gutted in the incident. Thankfully, there was no loss of life. Two persons engaged in firefighting efforts sustained injuries and were provided first aid,” he told PTI.
The homes damaged belonged to Liaqat Mir, Bashir Ahmed, Alfa Mir, and Jibran Mir. Tents and other relief materials have been provided to the affected families, and a detailed assessment of losses will follow, officials said.
Political leaders expressed concern and promised support to the victims. Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Sunil Sharma said he was in constant touch with affected families to discuss relief measures. National Conference MP Sajad Kitchloo expressed grief and confirmed he had spoken to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to ensure immediate assistance. Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Hamid Karra urged authorities to provide urgent relief, temporary shelter, and rehabilitation to affected families amid harsh winter conditions.