Srinagar, Feb. 12 -- Fire incidents have yet again witnessed an increase in the Kashmir Valley. On Monday, seven residential houses were gutted in separate incidents in Srinagar's Noorbagh and Chanpora areas, compounding the trauma caused by a massive blaze in Sonamarg just days prior, which destroyed 45 shops and hotels. These incidents are part of a distressing pattern: in 2024 alone, the region reported 6,752 fire emergencies, damaging 2,938 structures and injuring 23 firefighters. While the Fire and Emergency Services Department saved property worth Rs. 1,699 crore, the recurring tragedies demand urgent intervention. The root causes of these fires-LPG leaks, electrical overloads, and misuse of heating appliances-reveal a mix of ageing...