Srinagar, May 12, KNT: A series of fire incidents reported at Darul Ulooms and religious seminaries across Kashmir over the recent past and present has triggered growing concern over fire safety preparedness, infrastructure vulnerability and the absence of emergency response mechanisms in many residential institutions housing students.
The concern deepened this week after a midnight fire at Faizan Baba Hyder Rishi Darul Uloom near Old Mattan Adda in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district left a 12-year-old student dead and three others injured.
Officials identified the deceased as Bilal Ahmad, son of Mohammad Akbar, a resident of Wadwan. The fire broke out while dozens of students were present inside the seminary building during the night, leading to panic and chaos as flames engulfed the upper portion of the structure.
Read: Know About Friday in Islam
The tragedy has once again shifted public attention toward a pattern of recurring fire incidents involving seminaries across multiple districts of Kashmir, many of which function in aging structures with wooden interiors, congested dormitories and limited firefighting infrastructure.
In Srinagar, a massive blaze damaged a Darul Uloom in the Hyderpora area recently, prompting a large-scale response from firefighters, police and local residents who prevented the flames from spreading to nearby residential houses.
Another fire incident was reported at Darul Uloom Imdadiya in Naik Bagh Nowgam area of Srinagar, where significant damage was caused to the seminary building.
In Noorbagh area of Srinagar, a separate overnight blaze gutted another Darul Uloom, damaging rooms and property stored inside the institution.
South Kashmir has witnessed multiple such incidents. In Tral area of Pulwama district, Shah-i-Hamdan Darul Uloom was gutted in a fire incident, with preliminary reports attributing the blaze to a possible short circuit.
Another seminary building in Parrypora area of Pulwama district sustained damage after a fire broke out inside the premises before being brought under control by Fire and Emergency Services personnel.
In Budgam district, a Darul Uloom building in Kathipora Chadoora was gutted in a fire incident, while a religious seminary in Khadipora village of Kulgam district was partially damaged in another blaze.
A separate fire incident was also reported from Boniyar area of Baramulla district where a Darul Uloom structure suffered extensive damage.
Although no consolidated official data has yet been released regarding the number of fire incidents involving religious seminaries in Kashmir, the frequency of such cases has increasingly alarmed parents, religious scholars, civil society members and local residents.
The Anantnag tragedy particularly intensified scrutiny after locals alleged that firefighting equipment present inside the building was either non-functional or remained unused during the incident.
A respectable citizen told that news agency Kashmir News Trust that several Darul Ulooms in Kashmir accommodate boarding students, including minors, making nighttime fires especially dangerous because of panic conditions, limited exits and delayed evacuation.
Parents demand a comprehensive fire safety audit of all residential seminaries across Jammu and Kashmir, including inspections of electrical wiring, heating systems, emergency exits and structural vulnerabilities.
There are also growing calls for mandatory installation of smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, alarm systems, water hydrants and emergency evacuation plans in all Darul Ulooms and religious boarding institutions.
Locals argue that seminaries should not be left to manage emergencies without institutional support, particularly when hundreds of children reside in such facilities throughout the year.
The repeated incidents have also highlighted the need for regular fire safety training for seminary staff and students to minimize casualties during emergencies.
Authorities have launched investigations into several of the recent incidents, though in most cases the exact causes of the fires are yet to be conclusively established. [KNT]
© Kashmir News Trust (KNT). Unauthorized use without attribution is prohibited.
