Srinagar: Amid a sharp rise in fire incidents across the Kashmir Valley, particularly in Srinagar, the Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) Department has urged people not to park their vehicles on roads and lanes during night hours.

Officials said the growing trend of parking vehicles haphazardly on narrow roads and residential lanes has become a serious obstacle for fire tenders and emergency vehicles, often delaying crucial rescue and firefighting operations. “Vehicles parked on the roads not only obstruct movement but also create immense inconvenience for emergency services. In many localities, fire tenders are unable to pass through because of shrinking space caused by illegal parking,” a senior F&ES officer told the news agency Kashmir News Trust, urging media to create awareness about the illegal parking menace.

The statement comes at a time when the Valley has witnessed a series of devastating fire incidents in recent weeks. Srinagar, in particular, has reported multiple cases of nocturnal blazes,  including recent ones in densely populated localities such as Karfali Mohalla, Fateh Kadal, and Nawakadal, where narrow lanes and blocked access delayed fire response.

“Many of these fires could have been contained more quickly if our vehicles had reached the sites without delay,” the official added, appealing to the public to cooperate by keeping lanes and approach roads clear during the night.

The officer said that besides domestic and electrical short-circuit fires, there has also been a surge in fire accidents caused by improper use of heating appliances as temperatures continue to dip across the Valley.

Citizens have been urged to ensure safety precautions, including switching off electrical devices before sleeping and keeping fire extinguishers or buckets of sand in accessible areas. “Community cooperation is vital; every minute matters in a fire emergency.”

The officer said that they are considering writing to police stations and municipal bodies to assist in implementing strict parking regulations, particularly in congested areas of Srinagar and other major towns. [KNT]