SRINAGAR, Feb 9: It took authorities over two decades and multiple fire incidents-including the recent one that damaged 46 shops-to take measures to establish a fire station at the tourist resort Sonamarg in district Ganderbal.
\nFollowing the massive blaze last night, officials, including Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, V.K. Bidhuri, today visited Sonamarg to assess the situation.
\nDuring the visit, he announced that two temporary fire tenders would be stationed until a permanent fire station is established in the area.
\n\u201cFor the fire station, which has not been established here over the years due to unfavourable weather conditions, land has been identified. As a temporary measure, two fire tenders will be stationed-one at Z-Morh and another at the Youth Hostel,\u201d he said.
\nHe added that the massive blaze affected several people but that timely intervention had prevented any loss of life.
\n\u201cRegarding relief, we will submit the damage assessment report to the Government and the necessary measures will follow,\u201d he said.
\nBidhuri also urged business owners to adhere to fire safety measures and insure their properties to minimize the impact of such incidents. He also stressed the need for a Fire Safety Audit of all establishments in Sonamarg.
\n\u201cFor the reconstruction of these shops, the process will be expedited once the affected individuals apply for the necessary permissions,\u201d he added.
\nHowever, Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kangan, Mian Meher Ali, accused the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA) of failing to facilitate the establishment of a fire station in the area.
\n\u201cWhen I was elected as MLA, traders approached me demanding a fire station. I met the ADG Fire Services on December 1 and handed over a letter to him, after which a team visited the area for assessment,\u201d he said.
\nAli alleged that despite having available space, the CEO of Sonamarg did not provide land for setting up the fire station, calling him \u201cincapable.\u201d
\n\u201cI asked the CEO to provide space for a fire station since constructing a new building would take time. However, he showed no interest. His inaction led to this incident,\u201d he said, adding that the fire could have been prevented if fire tenders had been available.
\n\u201cWhatever happened is the CEO\u2019s responsibility. Had he provided space, this incident could have been avoided. Fire service personnel came here multiple times and met the CEO, but he was not interested,\u201d he added.
\nThe MLA further said that he has included the demand for fire tenders and a fire station building in the upcoming UT Budget.
\nMeanwhile, SDA CEO Ghulam Muhammad Bhat refuted the allegations, stating that the lack of a fire station has existed since the SDA\u2019s establishment in 2004.
\n\u201cI am the 18th CEO of SDA. I have taken up the matter with Fire Services, and they visited the spaces offered to them. However, they had specific requirements that were not met,\u201d he said.
\nResponding to the MLA\u2019s accusation of incompetence, Bhat stated: \u201cI am an officer, and I work according to my responsibilities. The SDA was the first to reach the spot and help contain the fire, preventing it from spreading further.\u201d
\nDeputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore, told reporters that the damage assessment had been completed and would be submitted for the necessary assistance to affected people.
\n\u201cThe other issues raised will be addressed. We have identified land for the fire station and will ensure the facility is set up soon,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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SRINAGAR, Feb 9: It took authorities over two decades and multiple fire incidents-including the recent one that damaged 46 shops-to take measures to establish a fire station at the tourist resort Sonamarg in district Ganderbal. Following the massive blaze last night, officials, including Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, V.K. Bidhuri, today visited Sonamarg to assess the situation. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":27063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[67,15,89],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-header","category-jammu-and-kashmir","category-national"],"gutentor_comment":0,"yoast_head":"\n