A fire broke out early Wednesday morning in the basement of Town Square Mall near Amar Singh College in the Gogji Bagh area of Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Fire officials quickly responded to the emergency, dispatching fire tenders from the Gaw Kadal area and the main headquarters to contain the blaze. Deputy Director of Fire and Emergency Services, Aqib Hussain Dar, noted that upon arrival, firefighters were met with heavy smoke emanating from the mall’s basement. Dar confirmed that extensive efforts to control the smoke and flames were successful, and the fire was ultimately contained without any injuries or loss of life.
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Firefighters are on the job as fire breaks out in the basement of Town Square Mall in Srinagar #SrinagarFire #TownSquareMallFire #BasementFire #MallFire #SrinagarEmergency pic.twitter.com/l6nVdfZWAt
— Jammu Tribune (@JammuTribune) October 30, 2024
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and authorities are working to assess the damages. Dar added, “The fire had broken out in the basement, producing significant smoke,” highlighting that it took multiple crews and the support of local police to prevent the fire from spreading further within the mall premises. Officials are currently investigating potential sources of ignition in the basement, where storage or electrical equipment may have contributed to the incident.
This fire comes amid increased vigilance in Srinagar, where several fire-related incidents in commercial and residential buildings have recently placed additional pressure on the local fire and emergency services. For instance, in another recent fire at a shopping complex in Srinagar, both a firefighter and a civilian suffered minor injuries as they attempted to control a fast-spreading blaze that destroyed property worth several lakhs. Local officials and community members have expressed concern over fire safety in commercial spaces, calling for stronger preventive measures and better-equipped facilities to handle such emergencies in Srinagar’s busy shopping areas.
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As the investigation into the Town Square Mall fire continues, officials emphasize the importance of fire preparedness and emergency response plans for all commercial establishments in the area. This incident also underscores the need for compliance with safety regulations to minimize the risks posed by electrical and storage hazards within such facilities.