MANSEHRA: Around a dozen houses were destroyed after a huge fire engulfed the Jarad Pati slum area in Kaghan valley early on Thursday.

No damage to human life was reported as families left houses shortly after the fire began.

However, many head of cattle and sheep were killed and household goods destroyed in the incident.

A short-circuit caused the fire, claimed physically-challenged resident Shah Faisal after his evacuation by neighbours.

He said the fire spread fast gutting the houses, which were built with diar and pinewood.

The resident said the locals threw water and sand on the raging fire, but to no avail.

He said families had a miserable time in the open due to the biting cold.

The residents demanded emergency relief as well as funds to rebuild houses.

Deputy commissioner Rao Bilal said the administration had dispatched relief goods to the families and would help them pick up the threads of life.

Kaghan Development Authority deputy director Assad Shahzad also said the organisation had sent teams to the area to care for families.

Also in the day, a fire broke out at a departmental store on the Shinkiari Road here and destroyed goods.

The Rescue 1122 workers put out the fire after several hours.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2023