Srinagar, 05-Apr: National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah on Tuesday visited Nigeen Hazratbal and expressed sympathy with the fire victims whose houseboats turned into ashes in a nocturnal blaze.”Visited Nageen lake to meet the owners of the houseboats that were gutted in a recent fire. The owners ensured that all the tourists were evacuated safely even though that meant they weren’t able to shift some of the boats away from the path of the fire,” Omar tweeted.“The owners rescued all the tourists staying in these boats, putting their own lives at risk while doing so. They carry the scars of their bravery. In fact their single minded focus to rescue the tourists left them with no time to shift the other boats as a result 7 houseboats have been completely gutted causing crores of rupees of damage”,Omar said. Meanwhile, Srinagar MP Dr Farooq Abdullah raised the issue in the Lok Sabha demanding compensation for the owners.“We hope the government will step up to help these people who have lost everything – their livelihood, their savings & any hope for the future”,Omar added.Pertinently at least seven houseboats and three sheds were gutted in a nocturnal blaze in Nigeen Lake in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. The fire incidents in Srinagar city have witnessed a rise since couple of months which left scores of shelters burnt and properties worth millions turned into ashes.(CNS)
