With the arrival of winter in Kashmir, the valley faces a crisis far more dangerous than the cold. The number of fire incidents surges sharply, turning homes, shops, and entire livelihoods into ashes within minutes. Families are left homeless in the freezing night, women, children, and the elderly forced to sleep in tents and on footpaths, battling both grief and harsh winter winds. From Srinagar’s old city to remote districts, the scale of destruction is heartbreaking. Tonight, Salaam TV brings you the real stories of those who lost everything — and the alarming rise of winter fires that continues to haunt the valley every year. As temperatures fall to minus 8, minus 10, the valley turns toward heaters—bukhārīs, gas heaters, electric blankets, makeshift kerosene stoves. But one small spark and a warm room turns into a furnace. Homes made of centuries-old wood ignite like dry leaves. By the time fire tenders reach, memories, savings, documents, childhood photographs—everything disappears into the night sky. In Kashmir, fire doesn’t just burn homes. It burns dreams, destroys decades of hard work, and leaves families standing on cold streets with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. You will find them sleeping on footpaths, inside broken sheds, under makeshift tents—fighting cold and grief together. Children shivering, wrapped in thin blankets. Women searching through ashes for anything—a ring, a pot, a school bag. Elderly people staring at the smoke as if their entire life is floating away with it. Our homes are gone. Our shops are gone. Our livelihood gone. Not just homes; entire workshops, warehouses, godowns, and small industries vanish in winter fires. Carpenters lose their sawmills. Shoe shops, garment shops, computer centres—all turn to black dust. Families depending on a single shop suddenly find themselves with zero income, zero security, and a long winter ahead. A fire lasts only a few minutes. But the night after, that lasts forever. In the darkness, you see families warming their hands near small makeshift fires, children asking their mothers, “Ghar kab banega?” Women crying silently so their children don’t hear. Men pretending to be strong while their hearts break inside. The valley sleeps, but fire victims remain awake—cold, homeless, and forgotten. Yet, amidst the ashes, Kashmir stands up again. Neighbours come first—bringing blankets, food, and courage. Local volunteers rush to help. Young boys collect donations. Old women open their doors to families who lost everything. This is Kashmir. A place where snow may freeze water—but never the heart. Winter fires are not accidents alone; they are a warning. From better infrastructure to safer heating practices to quicker fire response, Kashmir needs a system that protects its people before another home turns to smoke. As winter deepens, the valley wraps itself in snow—but beneath that white blanket lies a fear, the fear of fire. For every family who lost a home, for every child sleeping in a tent, for every mother holding ashes of her memories, their story must be told. Winter in Kashmir is not just cold, it burns. This winter, let’s not allow fire to take away what snow cannot. In winters, Kashmir witnesses a tragic rise in fire incidents. As temperatures drop, the pressure on our electrical systems increases and people rely heavily on heating appliances. Unfortunately, a large number of these devices are either faulty or used without proper safety measures. In many recent cases, entire families have lost their homes within minutes. Such losses are heartbreaking—and avoidable. Simple steps like installing a small fire extinguisher, keeping emergency exits clear, and turning off appliances before sleeping can save precious lives. Fire & Emergency Services is fully committed, and our men are risking their lives every day. But we need community support. Together, we can reduce these tragedies and make this winter safer for everyone in the valley. In winter, most fires happen due to gas heaters, electronic blankets, kerosene stoves, kangris and short circuits — but with proper care, we can prevent them. Yes, we rely on heaters, kangris and electric gadgets for warmth, but simple precautions can save homes and lives. Our winter essentials are important, and by using them safely, we can protect our families and our neighbourhood. We have seen many fire incidents in our area, but people here stand together and help each other in every crisis. Winter is tough, but our unity is stronger — neighbours come forward immediately to save lives and support victims. With awareness and careful use of heating devices, we can reduce these tragedies and keep our valley safe. As local residents, we have learned that one small safety step in winter can save an entire neighbourhood. We always remind each other to check heaters, wires, and kangris — because safety is a shared responsibility. Our community has suffered losses, but together we are creating awareness so that no family faces such pain again.