Srinagar, May 19 -- A devastating fire engulfed the main market of Sumbal in North Kashmir's Bandipora district during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, reducing at least 12 shops and four residential houses to ashes, officials said.

An official said that soon after the fire broke out, fire tenders from Sumbal and Naidkhai, along with Jammu and Kashmir Police and local residents, started a joint rescue operation to control the blaze.

Despite prompt efforts, the fire rapidly spread, prompting reinforcement from Safapora and Batwina fire stations.

After hours of intense firefighting, the flames were finally brought under control.

While assets worth crores were saved, property worth lakhs was destroyed in the blaze.

The gutted...