AJK to compensate Neelum valley fire victims

Compensation to be given for damaged property due to a fire in Sharda town of Neelum Valley

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government will provide compensation to the owners of the damaged property to overcome the losses they suffered due to the fire in Sharda town of Neelum Valley.

The assurance was given by Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan during his visit to the Sharda Bazaar on Tuesday, where at least 30 shops and two guesthouses were destroyed by a huge blaze last week.

Authorities are still unsure whether the fire was triggered by electric short-circuit or gas leakage in the kitchen of one of the guesthouses in Sharda.



“Officers concerned have been directed to submit report with precise details of the damages caused by the calamity so that affected people can be provided compensation,” the PM told a gathering.

The prime minister also announced a number of relief and welfare measures for the people of the Neelum Valley that attracts millions of tourists from across the country every year, especially in summer.

He also promised to provide Liquid Petroleum Gas to the people on subsidized rates for the purpose of fuel to save precious forests of the valley.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 20^th, 2018.