Srinagar Fire Razes Commercial Complex, 37 Residential Sheds | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: A major fire broke out on Tuesday evening at Bulbul Bagh near Tengpora Bridge in central Kashmir’s Srinagar district, destroying a commercial complex and at least 37 nearby residential sheds, officials confirmed.

The Fire and Emergency Services (FES) said the State Fire Control Room received an urgent call from Bulbul Bagh Bund, Barzulla, at 5:06 PM. Fire teams were immediately dispatched, with the first unit reaching the site within a minute.

The blaze engulfed a U-shaped, double-storey showroom-cum-warehouse constructed with wooden frameworks and GCI sheets. The facility, which housed multiple businesses and served as a storage hub, suffered extensive losses, with flooring, furnishings, and stored goods completely gutted.

In addition, 37 wooden and tarpaulin residential sheds were destroyed. Personal belongings and stored scrap inside the dwellings were lost, adding to the damage.

A nearby motorcycle (JK05F-9233) was also damaged, and parts of a transport company’s wooden storage structure were partially affected, resulting in material losses.

The firefighting operation was led by Deputy Director Mir Aqib Hussain and Mobilising Officer Aijaz Ahmad Shah, under the direct supervision of ADGP Alok Kumar. Officials reported that a fire tender from Rawalpora was damaged when locals allegedly broke its front windshield while it was at the scene.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. Authorities noted that timely intervention by the FES prevented the flames from spreading to adjoining areas.

Recent data from the FES department shows that Jammu and Kashmir recorded 6,039 fire incidents in 2025. The blaze in the summer capital is among the largest this year and was contained after a 30-hour intensive firefighting operation.