Fire in J&K's Poonch guts nearly a dozen shops

A major fire broke out in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, destroying nearly a dozen shops and causing significant property damage.

The blaze erupted in a market area and quickly spread to adjacent establishments, prompting panic among local traders and residents.

Firefighters and emergency personnel rushed to the scene and worked for several hours to bring the flames under control. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident.

According to officials, the fire caused extensive losses to shop owners as goods, equipment, and stock stored inside the establishments were reduced to ashes.

Local authorities have begun assessing the damage and are investigating the cause of the fire. Preliminary reports suggest that an electrical fault may have triggered the blaze, though the exact reason is yet to be confirmed.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over fire safety measures in crowded market areas.

Traders have urged the administration to provide assistance to affected shopkeepers and strengthen emergency response infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future. Authorities have assured that support will be extended to those who suffered losses in the fire.