Wasik Murtaza

Baramulla, March 25, 2025: A major fire broke out late Monday night in the crowded Jalal Sahib area of Old Baramulla town, destroying at least eight houses and causing huge property damage. Thankfully, no lives were lost, though one person suffered minor injuries while helping to put out the fire.

It is said that , The fire started in one house and quickly spread to next nearby houses. As soon as the fire service was contacted ,fire tenders rushed to the area and were joined by Police , Army and local residents to control the fire.

Despite their hard work, the damage was severe, and losses are estimated to be worth crores. Officials are still investigating the exact cause of the fire.

Anger Over MLA Javaid Baig’s Absence

As the fire victim families are desperate of help and struggle to recover, people are questioning the absence of their local representative, MLA Javaid Baig. Many residents feel abandoned, accusing him of only appearing during elections begging for votes and disappearing when people need him the most. Some people claims we have chosen the most arrogant MLA which costs us suffering and nothing else.

“These leaders ask for votes when elections come, but when we lose everything, they are nowhere to be found,” said a local shopkeeper whose business was destroyed in the fire.

Social media is flooded with criticism of Baig, with many calling his absence shameful. “If an elected leader cannot stand with his people in difficult times, what is the use of electing them?” asked another resident.

Touseef Mehraj Raina Steps In to Help

Unlike other politicians, Touseef Mehraj Raina has been with the fire victims since the beginning. He has provided shelter and food to the affected families and has taken charge of relief efforts. His presence has given some hope to the people.

Raina has also strongly criticized the Fire and Emergency Services, calling their response slow and unprepared. “This disaster could have been handled better. If the fire services had acted quickly, many homes could have been saved,” he said while speaking to the media.

Urgent Help Needed for Affected Families

With many families now homeless, there is an urgent need for help. Local groups and NGOs have started gathering food, clothes, and shelter materials, but government aid has been slow

People who lost their homes and everything in the fire are asking the administration to provide compensation and temporary housing until they can rebuild their homes. There are also demands for an investigation into the fire’s cause and better safety measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

As affected families struggle to move forward, the question remains—will the government take responsibility, or will this tragedy be forgotten like many others?