MANSEHRA: Four prefabricated houses were gutted and household goods worth millions of rupees were reduced to ashes on Tuesday when a heavy fire caused by electric short-circuit erupted in Paras Bala area of Balakot tehsil.

“Four shelter houses, which were built in the Suki Kinari hydropower project’s reservoir area, have been gutted by a heavy fire,” SHO Paras police station Tasweer Hussain Shah told reporters.

The fire, which apparently broke out in one of the four shelter houses, spread rapidly through them. The flames were visible from a distance, compelling residents to rush to the scene.

The police and locals rescued all women and children ensuring their safety, and no loss of life was reported in the incident, he added.

The SHO said the fire was extinguished after over an hour of hectic efforts, and besides police and locals, the fire squad of the Kaghan Development Authority also took part in the operation.

“Arshad Hussain, owner of a shelter house, informed us, and we rushed to the site and extinguished the fire with the help of locals,” the police officer said.

Mr Shah said the houses of Arshad Hussain, Amjad Hussain Shah and Abrar Hussain Shah were gutted, reducing household goods to ashes.

He said the police had lodged an FIR and started an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2025