RTI Report Reveals High Fatality Rate from Fires in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, Recent Right to Information (RTI) findings have revealed a grim tally of 486 deaths and 510 injuries resulting from fire incidents in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) over the past six years, with many cases still un-traced.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the data, released in response to an RTI application filed by activist MM Shuja, exposed that the Fire and Emergency Services Department received a staggering 26,354 fire incident calls from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2023. These incidents led to significant human and financial losses, including the deaths of nine firefighters in the line of duty.

An annual breakdown shows a consistent occurrence of fire-related fatalities and injuries throughout the six-year period. Notably, there were 104 deaths and 99 injuries in 2018, and though the number of calls in 2023 decreased to 4,451, there were still 19 deaths and 46 injuries.

The report has raised questions about the efficiency and preparedness of the Fire and Emergency Services Department, as well as the adequacy of medical care facilities to handle such disasters.

In addition, the RTI findings coincide with reports from the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), which accuses Indian armed forces of contributing to the destruction of civilian property. The JKCCS has condemned the burning and looting of civilian homes by the military, acts that contravene international humanitarian law, highlighting that in 2020, military operations resulted in the demolition of 114 homes. While the military might justify property destruction as a means to save lives, such conduct is considered a breach of law unless strictly required for military necessity.