Srinagar, March 20 -- According to eyewitnesses, the fire started from the house of the late Nisar Ahmad Lulu and spread rapidly to adjacent houses. The densely packed structures and lack of adequate firefighting resources exacerbated the destruction, as flames quickly engulfed the entire row of homes.

Locals, assisted by firefighters and police, made desperate efforts to douse the blaze. However, they faced severe challenges due to a shortage of water and defunct fire hydrants. "We tried our best, but the unavailability of water and non-functional fire plugs made it impossible to control the fire in time," said a distressed resident, as per news agency KNT.

The incident once again highlighted the vulnerability of Anantnag's congested o...