3 Bangladeshi Tourists Dead, 8 Others Rescued As Fire Engulfs Houseboats In J-K’s Dal Lake

Three tourists from Bangladesh were charred to death in a major fire that engulfed a houseboat on Dal Lake, a prominent attraction for tourists visiting the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

Three foreign tourists, from Bangladesh, lost their lives in a major fire that engulfed a houseboat on Dal Lake. The incident occurred near ghat nine on the famous lake, a prominent attraction for tourists visiting the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The blaze quickly spread and engulfed five houseboats namely Safeena, Sab Teena, Young Gulshan, Lala Rukh, and Khar Palace. The victims, burnt beyond recognition, were recovered from the debris of the gutted houseboats.

Three tourists from Bangladesh namely Anindaya Kowshal, Das Gupta, and Mohammad Moinud, who were staying in houseboat 'Safeena' lost their lives in the devastating fire. Meanwhile, eight people staying in these houseboats were rescued and evacuated to safety through joint efforts of Srinagar Police, State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), Tourist Police, Fire & Emergency Services (F&ES), and civilians.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the fire originated from a malfunctioning heating appliance in one of the houseboats in the early hours, according to news agency PTI's report. The exact cause is yet to be determined. The authorities have extracted DNA samples from the victims to establish their identities.

The fire, which erupted around 5.15 am, resulted in the destruction of property worth crores of rupees, officials told PTI. Local residents and fire and emergency services personnel worked tirelessly to bring the blaze under control. This incident marks the second major fire involving houseboats on Dal and Nigeen lakes. In April 2022, seven houseboats were destroyed in a fire on Nigeen Lake, causing substantial losses but, fortunately, no casualties.

Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Aijaz, along with senior tourism department officials, visited the scene to assess the situation. They assured all possible assistance in rebuilding the damaged houseboats.

The Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) expressed condolences over the incident, emphasizing the significant loss to the heritage houseboat population, PTI reported. KCCI President Javid Ahmad Tenga urged the administration to promptly assess losses and provide moral and monetary compensation for victims' rehabilitation. Additionally, the KCCI called for swift permissions for the reconstruction of the gutted houseboats and the timely supply of required timber.