Jammu, 13 October (H.S.): Three residential houses and two shops were gutted in a major fire in Mandi tehsil in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, officials said on Tuesday.

The fire broke out late Monday night at a house near Loran main chowk and soon spread to adjoining structures, officials said.

Fire and Emergency Services rushed fire tenders to the spot and brought the blaze under control after hectic efforts, they said.

The fire is suspected to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, officials said, adding that no casualties were reported in the incident.

However, three residential houses and two shops belonging to Mohd Raiz, his brother Jhangir Zargar, and their cousins Mohd Yousuf and Habib Zargar were damaged in the fire.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar