JAMMU, June 7 -- Nearly a dozen shops were gutted in a major fire in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir early Sunday, officials said.
The fire broke out at around 5 am in the Bufliaz central market along Mughal Road, affecting mostly shops constructed of wood and tin.
They said locals, with assistance from army and CRPF personnel, initiated the firefighting operation and were later joined by a team from the fire and emergency services department.
An official from the Fire and Emergency Services said the blaze was brought under control within 30 minutes, restricting the damage.
Preliminary investigation suggested that the fire was caused by a short circuit in one of the shops and immediately spread to nearby shops, he said. Locals have...