Srinagar, Apr 5 :
A woman and her six-year-old son were charred to death when six houses were gutted in a devastating fire in the uptown Srinagar in the wee hours of Monday, official sources said.
Fire broke out in a house of one Ghulam Mohammad Sheikh at Dogerpati Haftchinar area in uptown Srinagar at about 0030 hrs. However, it spread to other adjacent houses before the fire tenders could control the leaping flames.
Police personnel from the nearby Shergari police station and locals from adjoining areas joined the operation to douse the flames.
Wife of Sheikh identified as 40-year-old Ajmeera and son Mohammad Abbas Sheikh (6) who were sleeping in their house, made mostly of wood, could not be rescued after roof collapsed.
Fire tenders from different parts of the city, including Fire and Emergency Department, Batmaloo extinguished the inferno. However, the duo was rescued in a critical burn injuries and taken to SMHS hospital where they were declared brought dead.
They said six houses and other household goods worth lakhs of rupees had been damaged in the fire.
The cause of fire was not known, the sources said, adding that police has registered a case and initiated proceedings.
Meanwhile, officials from District Administration have reached the spot to assess the damage and provided temporary shelters and other relief material to the affected families.
