Srinagar: A fierce midnight fire gutted several timber units and damaged an adjoining commercial building in Munawarabad, sending thick smoke across the neighbourhood and forcing residents to flee in the early hours, officials said.
Firefighters rushed to the scene after receiving calls around midnight and battled the blaze for several hours before bringing it under control. Local police and municipal teams assisted in evacuation and cordoned off the area to prevent onlookers from hampering rescue operations.
Witnesses said the flames spread rapidly through closely packed workshops, feeding on timber and other combustible materials. Several shopkeepers and workers managed to remove some goods, but many units suffered extensive structural and stock losses. No casualties were reported immediately, though a few people were treated for smoke inhalation at a nearby hospital.
Officials said the exact cause of the fire was not yet known and that a formal investigation would be launched once the site was declared safe. Preliminary inquiries will focus on electrical short-circuiting, improper storage of flammable materials, and adherence to fire-safety norms at the timber units.
The district administration has promised support to affected businesses and said teams would assess damage and coordinate relief measures. Local residents urged authorities to step up enforcement of safety regulations and to improve firefighting infrastructure in congested commercial areas to prevent similar incidents in future.
