Srinagar tragedy: Two scrap collectors killed as massive fire destroys 80 shelters in Bemina

A catastrophic late-night fire swept through a makeshift settlement in the Durbal area of Bemina, Srinagar, claiming the lives of two scrap collectors and reducing around 80 temporary shelters to ashes during the intervening night of November 3 and 4.

The inferno erupted at approximately 12:23 AM, rapidly spreading through the tightly packed cluster of wood-and-tarpaulin shanties. Fueled by highly combustible materials, the flames engulfed the entire encampment before emergency services could be alerted. An empty poultry farm and a tipper parked in the vicinity were also heavily damaged by the heat and fire.

Units from the JVC and Rawalpora Fire Stations responded promptly, followed by major reinforcements dispatched from the Fire and Emergency Services Headquarters in Batamaloo. Under the coordination of Deputy Director Command Srinagar Mobilizing Officer Aijaz Ahmad Shah, along with the DFO City and DFO Headquarters, firefighters launched a multi-station operation to contain the inferno.

Once the flames were successfully doused, search and rescue teams discovered two charred bodies beneath the smoldering debris. The deceased were identified as 27-year-old Mohd Noor Alam, son of Abdal Wahab (originally from Delhi, residing in Durbal), and 16-year-old Al Ameen, son of Mohd Rafi (originally from Delhi, currently residing in Kupwara). Both worked locally as scrap collectors.

Following Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) procedures and site inspections, the bodies were transferred to the local police for legal formalities. Authorities have launched an investigation, as the exact cause of the blaze remains under assessment.

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