At least 21 shops were gutted in a major fire in Warnow area of Lolab in Kupwara district of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, causing extensive damage and heavy financial losses to local traders. Officials said the blaze engulfed three commercial buildings, destroying shops, stock and other property. The first building had 16 rooms, including eight shops on the ground floor, an agriculture laboratory and two hotel units.

Five other rooms were being used as grocery shops, while the eight rooms on the first floor were vacant. The second building housed a single-storey grocery shop, while the third building contained a grocery shop, a mobile phone shop, a photostat shop and a fertiliser shop. A total of 21 shops and one motorcycle were damaged in the fire. The blaze reduced commercial establishments and merchandise to ashes, leaving traders with substantial losses. Tehsildar of Lalpora Dr Masroor Gayaas told the media that the cause of the fire and the exact extent of the losses are being assessed.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)