Sopore, Oct 9: A fire triggered by an electrical short circuit gutted an apple storage shed in Sempora area of Sopore on Thursday evening, destroying freshly harvested fruit and packaging material and causing extensive losses to a local grower, officials said.
The fire engulfed the godown belonging to fruit grower Manzoor Ahmad, while a portion of his house also suffered damage. Locals and police personnel rushed to the spot and managed to bring the blaze under control, preventing it from spreading further, an official said.
However, by the time the fire was brought under control, the apple stock and packaging boxes stored inside the shed had been destroyed.
Recounting his ordeal, Ahmad told KNO that the incident had left him devastated, with an entire season’s hard work reduced to ashes.
“It has been a very difficult time since yesterday. My year’s hard work has been destroyed in the fire. I could not sleep the entire night. The losses are huge and I appeal to the government to help me,” he said.
The incident has sparked concern among local residents, who appealed to Agriculture Minister Javid Ahmad Dar and Sopore MLA Irshad Rasool Kar to intervene and provide financial assistance to the affected grower.
The residents urged the authorities to assess the losses and extend relief to Ahmad, whose livelihood has been severely affected by the blaze.
