Bandipora, October 8, 2025 – A fire that gutted two houses in Gurez Valley’s Badugam area was brought under control by 9 AM today, thanks to swift intervention by the Indian Army and local fire services. The blaze, starting around 6:30 AM from an electrical short circuit in a wooden structure, spread to an adjacent home, destroying livestock sheds and stored fodder. No injuries were reported, but two families of five members each are displaced.
Army personnel from a nearby post, alerted by villagers, joined the 20-strong fire team with water tenders, dousing flames within two hours despite the remote 100-km trek from Bandipora town. DC Bandipora Dr. Owais Ahmed visited by 10 AM, assuring Rs 2 lakh immediate relief per family under SDRF norms. “Winter’s approaching; temporary shelters ready,” he said. Cause under probe; locals cite faulty wiring in old homes. Gurez, a border enclave, often faces such risks due to isolation. Officals are asked to be on alert for such events in future.