Fire burns houses and goods in Skardu

Fire causes damage in Hilalabad village of Kharmang area in District Skardu.

SKARDU: Ten houses were burnt in a fire in Hilalabad village of Kharmang area in District Skardu on Thursday, reported Express 24/7.

According to initial reports, the cause of the fire might have been the firewood that locals store to keep themselves warm during the harsh winters. However, an official confirmation is yet to be received from the area.

Since early November, temperature in Skardu had fallen as low as four degrees below freezing point after a spell of heavy rain and snowfall in Gilgit-Baltistan(G-B). This meant that the villagers had no access to water when the fire erupted, being forced to quell it with the very limited options available to them.

Lack of proper roads also made it difficult for rescue teams to reach the village and control the damage.

No casualties were reported in the incident but villagers feared the loss of more material goods as the fire continues to spread till the filing of this report.

Earlier in Rawalpindi, a fire broke out in the Imperial Market of the Raja Bazaar destroying electronic goods worth millions of rupees.