Newspaper office, commercial bldgs, hotel gutted in fire in Kashmir

Srinagar, Nov 21 (UNI) A newspaper office, three commercial buildings and a hotel were gutted by fire in the Kashmir valley during the last 24 hours, official sources said today.

Fire broke out in one of the commercial building at Residency road, on the bank of river Jhelum in the dead of night and spread to two nearby buildings, also housing the office of an English daily ''Mirrior of Kashmir''.

''Fire destroyed property worth crores of rupees,'' sources said.

According to Editor-in-Chief Ghulam Hassan Kaloo, the publication of the newspaper has been stopped because of the major damage suffered due to the fire.

''The publication will be resumed as soon as possible from another building,'' he added.

Mr Kaloo said the efforts put in by Ali Mohammad Koka of Fire Service Department and Bashir Ahmad of Power Development Department played an important role in controlling the flames.

In a separate incident, fire broke out in a hotel at main market in Uri causing major damage to it. Two nearby houses and two shops were also gutted in the fire, sources informed.

UNI BAS QAB AE PK HT1720