Srinagar: Seven houseboats were gutted in a massive midnight fire at Nigeen Lake on Monday.
Fire started from a houseboat and engulfed adjacent ones, officials said.
“The fire started from one houseboat at around 2 a.m. and then spread to others,” said Raj Mohammad, whose houseboat was also gutted in the devastating fire.
One houseboat costs more than three crore rupees, he said.
“I have lost everything, home as well as source of income. I couldn’t even salvage the gold and other ornaments of my wife," he added.
Though locals and police launched a firefighting operation, the houseboats were “substantially” gutted before the blaze was finally contained.
An official of the Fire and Emergency department said six fire tenders were rushed to spot as soon as news about the fire was received at around 2:26 a.m.
Besides seven house boats, three sheds were also gutted in the fire, the officials said.
Cause was fire was being ascertained by the police.
(GNS)
