Srinagar, August 02: Former Deputy Mayor Srinagar and senior politician Sheikh Mohammad Imran on Tuesday expressed profound grief over the nocturnal fire incident at Daulatabad in Nowpora-Khanyar where two structures have been heavily damaged along with papier mache goods worth lakhs of rupees.
A delegation of political leaders & workers including senior leader Khawaja Mohammad Yaseen accompanied Sheikh Mohammad Imran during his visit to Daulatabad where he interacted with the affected families while expressing deep solidarity with them.
In a statement to the media outlets, Imran termed the ominous fire incident as extremely unfortunate and assured the affected households of every possible help.
“I am distressed by this ominous fire incident that has shaken the hopes of so many families whose future was dependent on the prosperity of this trade but the blazes have torn those dreams. However, with every calamity there is ease and I extend my deep solidarity with them. With prayers and joint sincere efforts, we shall try to reinstate that crumbled hope to ensure that the future of these fire victim families is secured,” he said.
Imran requested the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Aijaz Asad to dispatch rescue & relief teams on the affected locations and assess the losses incurred due to the hapless inferno.
“I would sincerely request our dynamic DC Aijaz Asad Sb to provide adequate compensation to these families along with necessary trade loans in order to aid them in re-establishing their crafts business that has already witnessed a sharp decline. The department of Handicrafts must also come to the rescue of this adroit section of the society who through toil and hardship have kept the art of papier mache alive. It is their prerogative to help out the craftsmen during such calamities,” he remarked.
Moreover, Sheikh Mohammad Imran reiterated his demand for the installation of fire hydrants in the city, especially the congested areas of Shahr-i-Khaas where fire trucks cannot penetrate to the interior vicinities effectively.
“The downtown area has become prone to fire incidents due to congestion in both residential and commercial areas. Therefore, novel strategies like installation of fire hydrants to counter such looming threats need to be incorporated promptly,” he said while adding, “I have already written to the concerned quarters including Hon’ble Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha ji for the imperative need of mounting fire hydrants everywhere in the old city and would hereby repeat my demand in order to check the spikes in fire incidents. I am highly hopeful that the needful will be done.”
