About 40 shops gutted in Kupwara

Baramulla, July 14 (UNI) About 40 shops were gutted in a devastating fire that broke out in the frontier district of Kupwara last night, official sources said today.

Official sources said a fire broke out in the main market at Kupwara last evening. Within minutes, the fire engulfed the entire commerical buildings damaging about 40 shops and destroying property worth crore of rupees.

The cause of the fire was not immediatley known, the sources said.

Meanwhile, people today took to streets and observed complete shut down alleging that fire fighting engines reached about half an hour late. Traffic in the town is also off the road and work in government offices was affected.

UNI XC/BAS AK VV1526