Srinagar, Mar 10: At least 7 shops were gutted in a pre-dawn fire incident in Maisuma market of Srinagar city.

Police sources said that a fire broke out in a shopping complex owned by one Khurshid Ahmed Dar in which 6 shops were gutted completely while one shop suffered partial damage.

The cause of the fire is being ascertained, they said.

One of the affected shopkeepers said that the fire broke out at 3:30 AM that was put out by firefighters with the help of police and locals.

Four shops were gutted on the first floor while the rest of the 3 shops were damaged on the 3rd floor.

The shops gutted in the fire incident were ‘Princo Electric’ owned by Riyaz Ahmad Khan, ‘IM Enterprises’ of Irfan Shafi Gattoo and Mushraq Ahmad Dar, ‘Canniez Petz Care’ owned by Riyaz Ahmad Bhat and 3 shops by the name of ‘Paradise Engineering’ all owned by the proprietor of the building Khursheed Ahmad Dar.

The quantum of loss is being assessed, said an official.

Police in this regard have registered a case and started an investigation. knt