NEELUM VALLEY: A devastating fire broke out today in the bustling market of Lawat Bala Khawaja Seri, located in the Neelum Valley, causing significant damage and panic among the local residents.
The blaze reportedly started in a pakora shop due to a gas cylinder leak, according to local sources. The fire quickly spread to nearby shops, including petrol and gas cylinder outlets, which further fuelled the inferno.
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Eyewitnesses report that the fire engulfed nine shops in the Lawat Bala Bazaar, leaving behind a trail of destruction. Goods worth lakhs of rupees were reduced to ashes, as shopkeepers and residents of the area desperately tried to extinguish the flames with whatever means they had at their disposal.
After a tense struggle, the fire was eventually brought under control, but not before it had caused significant damage to the market. The exact extent of the losses is yet to be determined, but the impact on the local community is expected to be severe.
Emergency services were reportedly delayed in reaching the scene, leaving the residents to rely on their own efforts to contain the blaze.