Minor girl dies, seven injured in two fire incidents in Gilgit-Baltistan

GILGIT: A minor girl lost her life while seven others sustained injuries in separate fire incidents in Gilgit-Baltistan over the past two days.

The tragic death occurred in a fire incident on Saturday in the Nager Proper area of the Nager district. Deputy Commissioner Nager, Ataur Rehman Kakar, informed HUM News English that the fire erupted in a house in Gotis area of Nager Proper at around 10:30 am. The blaze is believed to have started from a kettle used to make tea. Rescue teams and fire brigade from SAS Valley and the neighbouring Hunza district took approximately 25-30 minutes to reach the site.

In the incident, a 4 to 6-year-old girl, who was sleeping and possibly fainted due to suffocation from smoke, was burnt to death. All other members of the family managed to escape the inferno.

Residents expressed frustration, stating that the damage was exacerbated because rescue teams did not arrive promptly. The entire house was reduced to ashes.

One resident remarked, “Due to the lack of timely arrival of rescue teams, the fire could not be controlled, resulting in greater damage.”

No internet, mobile service on Muharram 7,10 in Quetta

Despite the efforts of volunteers, the young girl could not be saved. Although a fire brigade vehicle from Hunza made the long journey to the site, it arrived too late to save the girl, who had already been engulfed by the flames.

Residents protested against the lack of fire brigade services in the largest union council and tehsil headquarters of the district.

Deputy Commissioner Kakar admitted that limited resources hinder rescue efforts in such incidents. “Inshallah, I’ll try to set up a fire brigade at Nager Proper,” he said.

Another incident took place in the Astore district on Friday, where a fire erupted in a house, injuring seven members of a family. According to Rescue 1122, the fire broke out in Chahi village of Astore due to a gas cylinder blast, resulting in injuries to two women, one man, and three children. Rescue 1122 personnel provided first aid to the victims and shifted them to DHQ Hospital Astore via ambulance.