In a tragic incident, a multi-storey house in the Basantgarh area of Udhampur district, Jammu, was reduced to ashes early morning due to a fire exacerbated by heavy snowfall. Quick response from local police teams, in collaboration with vigilant residents, successfully prevented the flames from spreading to nearby areas.
Senior Superintendent of Police Udhampur, Joginder Singh, informed Republic that the fire erupted around 8 in the morning when two elderly individuals were present inside the house. Thankfully, they were evacuated promptly. “The Basantgarh Police team swiftly arrived at the scene and, with the assistance of locals, managed to contain the fire, averting its extension to nearby buildings. The affected structure, a three-storey building housing three shops, has been gutted. We are currently investigating the cause of the fire,” he added.
Local accounts reveal that the fire originated in the residence of Talib Hussain in the Basantgarh town area, resulting in the complete destruction of the house.
Fortunately, no loss of life has been reported as the majority of the family members were outside when the incident occurred. The community now faces the challenging task of recovering from the aftermath of this devastating fire amid the ongoing heavy snowfall in the region.