Blaze damages Jamia Masjid in Drass; no loss of human life
A grand mosque was gutted in a devastating fire incident on Wednesday evening in Drass sub-division of Kargil district in Ladakh Union Territory.
According to Kargil police, a major fire broke out in the QadeemHanfiya Jamia Masjid Shareef Drass, about 50-km from Kargil town, around 5.30 pm, causing extensive damage to the mosque.
The fire engulfed the entire compound and the building at the Jamia Masjid in Drass. However, there was no loss of human life in the incident.
“The army mobilized their men and machinery to bring the fire under control while the police officials and locals also rushed to the spot. Fire tenders of army and Fire and Emergency Services from Kargil were pressed into service to douse the flames but they faced a tough time while controlling the flames. After hectic efforts, flames were brought under control and prevented from spreading further. The immediate cause of the fire is not clear and it is being investigated,” a police official from Kargil PCR said.
The police official said that the top floors of Jamia Masjid were completely damaged in the incident.
Local residents and representatives of Kargil were aghast over unavailability of emergency fire services at subdivision level and regretted that the quantum of loss would have been less if the fire tenders were reached in time.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) Kargil Feroz Ahmed Khan accused the fire and emergency department of Ladakh of protecting the properties of people in fire incidents.
“The fire and emergency department of UT L (Ladakh) has failed to protect properties of people in fire incidents. Despite of liberal funding the dept could not provide fire engine service sub divisional level. I request Lieutenant Governor to establish a fire brigade unit at sub divisional level,” Khan said in a tweet.
LAHDC Kargil councilor from Bhimbet Syed Mohammad Shah said, “It is very tragic and heart wrenching to see the grand Hanfiya Masjid Drass on flames. The cause of the fire remains unclear but what’s devastating is the unavailability of emergency fire services in the region and inefficiency of the system to be prepared for such instances”.
“It is not for the first time that such carelessness and late action from the concerned authorities have led to devastating outcomes due to not available fire service in Drass. This is highly Condemnable.. My heart breaks to see this with bare eyes,” he added.
