Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Two scrap collectors from Delhi were charred to death after a devastating fire swept through a cluster of temporary shelters in the Durbal area of Bemina, on the outskirts of Srinagar, during the intervening night. At least 80 makeshift structures, most of them used by scrap dealers, were reduced to ashes.
The deceased have been identified as 27-year-old Muhammad Noor Aalam and 16-year-old Muhammad Ameen Rafi, both residents of Delhi who were engaged in scrap collection and had been staying in the area.
According to details, the fire broke out in the cluster of shelters and spread rapidly to adjoining structures, leaving little opportunity to contain it before the flames engulfed a large portion of the settlement. Most of the affected shelters were reportedly being used by scrap dealers for both work and accommodation.
As the blaze intensified, police personnel, Fire and Emergency Services teams and local residents rushed to the spot and joined efforts to douse the flames. Firefighters worked to bring the situation under control while locals assisted in the operation.
Despite these joint efforts, the fire caused extensive destruction, gutting at least 80 temporary shelters and leaving two persons dead. The loss of property is reported to be substantial, though the exact extent of the damage is yet to be assessed.
The deaths of the two young scrap collectors have added a tragic dimension to the incident. The destruction of so many temporary structures has also affected the people who depended on the settlement for their livelihood and accommodation, many of whom are migrant workers living far from home.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known. Police have taken note of the incident, and further details about the circumstances leading to the outbreak and the assessment of losses are awaited.
Temporary settlements of this kind are common on the fringes of cities, where migrant workers set up makeshift shelters close to the places where they work. Built largely of flammable material and packed closely together, such structures are highly vulnerable to fire, which can spread within minutes, especially during the colder months when people rely on heating arrangements. Scrap yards add to the risk because of the combustible material stored on site.
The incident is likely to renew calls for safer accommodation arrangements for migrant labourers and for stricter attention to fire safety in informal settlements. For now, attention is on establishing how the fire started, ensuring that the bodies are handed over to the families and that the displaced workers receive immediate support. An official assessment of the damage is expected once the area is cleared.
