Doda, 18 December (H.S.): In a major fire incident that erupted in Karal Mohalla locality of Puneja village here today, four residential houses belonging to Raj Mohd, Abdul Shakoor, Abdul Qayoom and Jaan Mohd were gutted.

Sources informed that the fire tenders could not reach the spot immediately though it was just 7 km from the town as the fire hit area was located at hill top 1 km away from motorable road.

A.S.P Bhaderwah, Vinod Sharma supervised the fire extinguishing operation.

Locals along with cops and fire tenders did a commendable job and risked their lives to bring the fire under control but by then four houses were gutted and property worth lakhs was destroyed.

Cause of the fire was not known till last reports.

“I noticed flames coming from the top floor and due to wind the fire rapidly spread to adjoining houses. We informed fire services department but it took them one hour to trek the hill to reach the spot,” said Mohd Iqbal, an eyewitness of the incident.

Concern for proper road to the village was expressed by Durga Devi, a resident of Puneja.

Meanwhile, in a fire incident in Ligri area of Paddar in Kishtwar district cattle fodder was burnt in the house of one Bihari Lal.

There was no other loss of property or injury to anyone in the incident.

The fire was doused by the locals themselves before the arrival of fire tenders.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar