Aadil Abdullah Bandipora

A massive fire broke out on Friday evening in the Bagtore area of Gurez, located near the Line of Control (LoC) in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district. The blaze completely destroyed a double-storey wooden house and caused partial damage to an adjacent structure. Authorities believe the fire was sparked by a traditional wooden bukhari (heater) inside the house.

The rapid spread of the fire created panic among residents, but thanks to the swift intervention of soldiers from the Army’s Rana Battalion stationed in the area, the fire was quickly brought under control.

With the Army’s help, locals launched a rescue operation to prevent further damage to nearby properties. Despite the best efforts of the Army and local residents, the house of Aabid Hussain Lone, son of Mohd Ramzan Lone from Gulshanpora Bagtore, was heavily damaged.While fire tenders were dispatched to the scene, one vehicle became stuck near the NHPC dam site, delaying their arrival.

However, the NHPC authorities stepped in and deployed a JCB to clear the blockage, allowing the fire tender to proceed. Meanwhile, police and Army personnel, armed with fire-fighting tools, worked tirelessly to contain the flames and minimize further destruction.

The local community has expressed deep gratitude to the Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police for their quick and coordinated response. Many residents emphasized that the Army’s involvement played a pivotal role in saving additional property and lives.

Thankfully, no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident. However, the fire has once again highlighted the urgent need for a fire station in the Bagtore area. Locals are calling on Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Manzoor Ahmad Qadri, and other relevant authorities to prioritize the establishment of a fire station to ensure faster responses in future emergencies.

Meanwhile Army’s Rana Battalion Bagtore issued Statement as The Rana Battalion of the Indian Army conducted a heroic rescue operation in the Bakhtoor area of Gurez during a devastating fire, successfully preventing further damage to the affected houses and rescuing nearby residents. Their swift action saved properties worth lakhs of rupees.The incident occurred around 4:00 PM today in Bakhtoor, where a house belonging to a resident of Gulshanpura caught fire.

Unfortunately, the fire truck could not reach the spot due to road blockage. However, senior officers and soldiers from the Indian Army promptly arrived at the scene and carried out a well-coordinated rescue operation, preventing the fire from spreading further.Speaking about the incident, a local resident, Zaheer Ahmed, said, “Once again, the Indian Army has shown how dedicated they are to the welfare of people in border areas. Their timely response controlled the fire and saved nearby homes from being affected.

We are deeply grateful to the Indian Army for always standing by us in times of need.”The operation is yet another testament to the Indian Army’s commitment to serving and protecting the people, especially in remote and challenging regions they added