Srinagar, Nov 15 (HS): Four people were injured when a fire broke out at a mosque in the Hamray area of Pattan in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district on Sunday morning, damaging the structure.

Teams of Fire and Emergency Services, police and the Army rushed to the spot soon after the incident was reported and launched a joint operation to bring the blaze under control, officials said. Local residents also joined the effort and helped the responding teams.

Locals said the flames emanating from Masjid-e-Mustafa were so fierce that they could be seen from a distance, and people from the area and neighbouring villages reached the spot to help.

The Army deployed personnel and machinery to douse the fire, which was eventually contained and prevented from spreading further.

Locals said that despite these efforts, most of the mosque was reduced to ashes. They thanked the Army for taking part in the rescue operation.

The official said the four injured, all local residents of Saloosa in Kreeri, were first taken to nearby hospitals and later referred to hospitals in Srinagar for advanced treatment.

The cause of the fire and the full extent of the damage are yet to be ascertained.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Zahoor Hussain Bhat