Weeks before wedding, fire reduces bride’s home, dreams to ashes in Anantnag

Anantnag, Apr 14: Weeks before her wedding, 30-year-old Ulfat Jan watched in horror as flames consumed her home and everything prepared for her big day – in Panjpora village of Sangam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

The fire broke out on Monday morning, rapidly engulfing the family’s wooden and concrete house, leaving them no time to save their belongings.

“We didn’t even get a moment to react. The fire had already spread everywhere,” Jan said.

Set to be married next month, she had kept her wedding dress, jewellery, and other essentials ready. All were destroyed in the blaze.

“My wedding dress, gold – everything is gone,” she said.

Jan, who earned a living by stitching clothes, also lost her sewing machines and garments belonging to customers, including bridal outfits.

“I tried to save whatever I could, but the fire was too fierce,” she said. “My younger brother and sister pulled me out of the house.”

Her father, Abdul Rashid Sheikh, a lower rung government employee posted in Jammu, reached home in the evening to find the house reduced to ashes.

He said years of savings meant for the wedding were wiped out.

“I had worked very hard for my daughter’s marriage. Now, we have nothing left – not even a roof,” he said.

Jan’s mother, who had gone out to fetch milk, returned to find the house engulfed in flames.

“I heard cries and rushed back, but by then the entire house was on fire,” she said.

Locals said the blaze destroyed household goods, food stocks, bedding and important documents, leaving the family with no belongings.

The fire also gutted the nearby house of widow Rehmati Begum, compounding the losses.

“I lost my husband years ago. We survive on my son-in-law’s daily wages. This fire has broken us,” Begum said.

Villagers attempted to douse the flames and prevent it from spreading further before Fire and Emergency Services personnel arrived.

“We tried our best to save the families and control the fire,” said resident Ghulam Muhammad.

Local legislator Bashir Ahmad Veeri and district officials visited the site and assured assistance to the affected families.

Residents said the losses were severe and called for immediate relief.

“They need help for shelter and basic needs,” Muhammad said.