Fire Destroys
Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir:- Two residential houses were completely destroyed in a fire that broke out in the remote hill village of Arai in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, once again highlighting the fragile state of emergency preparedness in mountainous rural areas.The houses belonged to Abdul Qayoom and his brother Ghulam Din. No loss of life was reported, but the families suffered severe financial losses as the blaze reduced their homes and belongings to ashes.According to local residents, the fire erupted suddenly in one of the houses and spread rapidly to the adjacent structure. Villagers attempted to contain the flames using limited local resources, but a persistent shortage of water made their efforts ineffective. Residents say that even in the peak of winter, access to drinking water in the village remains inadequate.A Fire and Emergency Services vehicle was dispatched from Mandi after authorities were informed of the incident. However, due to narrow, poorly maintained roads and difficult terrain, the fire tender was unable to reach the village and reportedly had to stop several kilometres away. By the time assistance could have been provided, both houses had already been completely gutted.Arai is among several villages in the Mandi block that are located in rugged mountainous terrain, where infrastructure development has not kept pace with population needs. Local residents say that large emergency vehicles, including fire tenders and ambulances, are unable to access the area, leaving communities exposed during crises.Villagers also alleged that older water channels were damaged during the implementation of recent water supply projects, further worsening water scarcity in the area. They argue that had local water sources remained functional, the damage from the fire might have been reduced.Despite road improvement work having started as early as 2009, residents say the routes remain unsuitable for emergency movement. In situations involving fire, medical emergencies, or natural disasters, the population is often left with no immediate institutional support.Following the incident, residents have urged the district administration and the Jammu and Kashmir government to introduce small, terrain-appropriate fire response vehicles, strengthen rural road connectivity, and ensure a reliable and sustainable water supply for remote villages.The incident in Arai has once again raised serious questions about whether emergency response systems in Jammu and Kashmir’s hilly districts are adequately designed to match ground realities, and how long remote communities will continue to bear the cost of infrastructural gaps.
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