Kupwara, April 9, KNT: A fire broke out during the intervening night at the main bus stand in Kupwara, damaging multiple buses, with at least five vehicles completely gutted and one partially damaged, according to initial information.
The incident occurred late at night, engulfing several parked buses at the transport hub. No casualties were reported in the incident.
Preliminary details indicate that the fire caused extensive damage to vehicles belonging to different owners, with several buses reduced to charred frames.
Among the vehicles fully damaged were a bus bearing registration number JK02BL-2722 owned by Pirzada Showkat Ahmad Shah, son of Ghulam Nabi Shah, resident of Kunan Poshpora, and another bus JK02BL-9191 owned by Ali Mohammad Khan, son of Fateh Mohammad Khan, resident of Kandi Khass.
A third bus, JK05P-6881, belonging to Sajad Ahmad Sanjai, son of Mohammad Yaseen Sanjai, resident of Ashpora Sopore, was also completely gutted in the blaze.
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Additionally, a video coach bus JK01BC-8916 owned by Hilal Ahmad Sheikh, son of Farooq Ahmad Sheikh, resident of Kunan Poshpora, and another video coach JK09D-5002 belonging to Manzoor Ahmad Magrey, resident of Keegam Kupwara, were fully damaged.
A bus bearing registration number JK21-9557 owned by Ghulam Nabi Ganie, son of Abdul Khaliq Ganie, resident of Ganie Mohalla Kupwara, was reported to have been partially damaged.
Another bus, JK05P-2324, owned by Abdul Rasheed Parry, son of Ghulam Mohammad Parry, resident of Sultanpora Pattan Baramulla, was also among the affected vehicles.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the cause of the fire, and further investigation is underway to determine the circumstances leading to the incident.
Fire services responded to the scene and brought the blaze under control after efforts to prevent further spread.
Fire incidents involving parked vehicles at bus stands have previously raised concerns over safety measures, electrical faults, and potential fire hazards in transport hubs across the region. [KNT]
