5 buses gutted, 2 partially damaged in midnight blaze in Kupwara

Five passenger buses were gutted in a devastating fire incident at the old bus stand in main town Kupwara late Wednesday evening, leaving the affected families devastated.

A senior Police officer told Greater Kashmir that a devastating fire broke out at around 11:50 pm at the old bus stand in Kupwara, resulting in five buses being completely gutted while two others sustained partial damage, however no loss of life was reported in the incident.

Eye witnesses said that the raging flames could be seen from far away forcing them to launch a rescue operation. “After sensing flames erupting from the old bus stand, I instantly informed Fire and Emergency department following which several fire tenders along with Police reached the spot to douse the raging flames,” said one of the eye witnesses. Five buses were completely destroyed in the fire, including JK02BL-2722 owned by Pirzada Showkat Ahmad Shah of Kunan Poshpora and JK02BL-9191 belonging to Ali Mohammad Khan of Kandi Khass. Another bus, JK05P-6881, owned by Sajad Ahmad Sanjai of Ashpora, was also gutted in the incident.

Two video coach buses JK01BC-8916 owned by Hilal Ahmad Sheikh of Kunan Poshpora and JK09D-5002 belonging to Manzoor Ahmad Magrey of Keegam Kupwara were among those fully damaged. In addition, two buses suffered partial damage, including JK21-9557 owned by Ghulam Nabi Ganie of Ganie Mohalla Kupwara and JK05P-2324 belonging to Abdul Rasheed Parry of Sultanpora Pattan in Baramulla. Police are investigating the matter and trying to determine the circumstances which led to the incident. Later in the day Deputy Commissioner Kupwara Shrikant Suse and Senior Superintendent of Police Kupwara Syed Al Tahir Gillani visited the spot and assured the affected persons of all possible support from district administration.