Fire destroys nine houses, shop in Neelum Valley village

Published October 12, 2024
Children from the affected families sitting in a field along with some of their belongings after overnight fire in Dabba Jagran village of Neelum Valley. — Photo provided by author
Children from the affected families sitting in a field along with some of their belongings after overnight fire in Dabba Jagran village of Neelum Valley. — Photo provided by author

MUZAFFARABAD: A raging fire destroyed nine houses and a shop, while partially damaging 12 more houses in Neelum Valley of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), officials confirmed on Friday.

As the fire intensified, all occupants evacuated their homes and took shelter, preventing major injuries. Except for one woman who sustained minor burns, no other injuries were reported, they added.

According to Akhtar Ayoub, the disaster management officer for Neelum district, the fire broke out at around 2:30am in the Jagran Dabba village, reportedly caused by an electrical short circuit in the three-storey tin-roofed house of Mulki Zaman.

The flames quickly spread to neighbouring houses and a shop, reducing them to ashes, he said.

He said the district administration, police, and volunteers from the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) responded swiftly, working alongside local residents to control the fire and prevent further damage.

Among those affected were Mulki Zaman, Shamsus Zaman, Marifatullah, Sultan (who owned both a house and the shop), Mohibullah, Shahbaz, Najeebullah, Mohammad Amjad, and Naveed Awan.

Neelum valley’s Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Ahmed Janjua said that the 17 families inhabited the burnt houses and had been provided immediate relief, including tents, floor mats, kitchen sets, and quilts.

Video footage shared by Mr Ayoub showed a tent village set up in an open field near the affected area.

“We have already prepared compensation cases for the affected families and forwarded a request to the government for necessary funds,” Mr Janjua said.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2024

Opinion

Editorial

Electricity relief
Updated 05 Apr, 2025

Electricity relief

If govt ensures that requisite power reforms are implemented, it will earn much praise for reforming a vital segment of the economy.
Trump’s trade wars
Updated 05 Apr, 2025

Trump’s trade wars

Shoddy math applied by US to indiscriminately penalise its trading partners signals the end of an era of global trade liberalisation.
Legalised land grab
05 Apr, 2025

Legalised land grab

THE Modi government has passed a new bill targeting the Muslim community, this time eyeing swathes of priceless real...
More than words
Updated 04 Apr, 2025

More than words

Holistic development can only work when there is organic and credible political activity in the province.
Poor publicity
04 Apr, 2025

Poor publicity

FORTUNE does not seem to be favouring the PTI — at least not yet. With the party’s founder confined from public...
Party pooper
04 Apr, 2025

Party pooper

INDIA’s role of a spoilsport is tiresome. From pulling books from shelves, such as Wendy Doniger’s The Hindus: ...