Srinagar, Nov. 5 -- Two people, including a teenager from Delhi, lost their lives after a fire engulfed a cluster of at least 50 temporary shelters of scrap dealers on the outskirts of Srinagar on Tuesday night. Superintendent of police (west) Imtiyaz Ahmad said the bodies of Mohammad Noor Alam (27) and Mohammad Ameen (15), who dealt in the scrap trade, were recovered from the Durbal area of Bemina.

Chief minister Omar Abdullah has announced an ex-gratia relief of Rs.2 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased. He directed the authorities to provide all necessary assistance to the affected families.

Mohammad Rabiul Islam, the father of Ameen, said the deceased was in Srinagar to meet his cousin. "He was to return to Kupwara on Wedne...