Srinagar, September 29
Ten non-Kashmiri businessmen were among 12 persons killed and 16 others injured in a devastating fire which broke out in a hotel in Sopore town, 55 km from here, a senior police official said today.

The blaze, believed to be “accidental”, in New Light Hotel at the main chowk around midnight last night, also gutted 28 shops, five residential houses and eight godowns, the SSP, Baramula, Mr Abdul Qayoom Manhas, said.

While 12 charred bodies had been recovered from the debris of the hotel, search was on to locate two more persons who were reported missing, he said.

One of the bodies recovered from the three-storeyed hotel was identified as that of Moinullah of Bihar, he said.

Nine of the seriously injured had been referred to Srinagar for specialised treatment while the rest were discharged after first aid.

The loss in the devastating fire was estimated to be Rs 2 crore, he said.

The SSP said the fire started from the hotel kitchen either by a heater or gas leakage and despite efforts by the fire brigade the entire hotel and adjoining shops and houses were gutted. The situation had worsened with explosions of LPG cylinders.

The police had registered a case and was investigating the cause of the fire.

Senior police and civil officials have rushed to the spot.

The non-Kashmiri businessmen had come to Sopore to finalise a deal with apple traders and checked in the hotel. Four locals who were feared killed included two waiters and a cook.

Those killed are Javed Ahmad, Aftab Alam, Ali Madeen, Abdul Rehman (all residents of Kolkata), Jameel Ahmad, Mohammad Hussain (residents of Patna, Bihar), Syed Ali of Indore, Hanief and Saleem of Meerut and Abdul Rashid Dar, Abdul Rashid Sheikh and Mohammad Ramzan Gganai Sheerpora-Baramula and an unknown person, probably a beggar.