A major fire gutted at least 12 residential houses and several cowsheds in Mingli Village, Warwan Valley, Jammu and Kashmir, during the intervening night of September 29-30, perishing the livestock and resulting in a significant loss for the residents.
The fire engulfed a house in the area and spread quickly and rapidly to other closely standing houses. The fire was extinguished and was brought under control in the wee hours after the use of an excavator, stopping it from spiraling further. While the flames were extinguished, its burns were left deep in the loss, the ashes of the belongings, the destruction of assets, and the tears of the affected families.
While the weather outside was cold and trembling, the fire could not provide the warmth; rather, it instilled the fear of restarting again in the heart of the residents. What further grim the situation was that most of the families trace their roots in an economically weaker society, making it difficult for them to reestablish what they snatched. Miles2Smile went to the fire-hit area and gauged the level of loss through listening to the ordeal of the affected families and scrutinizing the impact.
After our surveys and the testimonies of the families, Miles2Smile provided blankets, utensils, gas stoves, and LPG cylinders to the families to provide them warmth and give them resources to restart their lives and cook comforting meals in the trembling winter that lay ahead of them.
The resource provided not only the means to re-establish what was lost but also engulfed the residents in love and care. While the assistance provided by Miles2Smile cannot undo the losses, the relief supplies have offered the affected residents some immediate support and a way to begin rebuilding their lives.
“I can’t thank God enough for providing relief through Miles2Smile. I thought I had lost everything and would not be able to restart, but now a sense of relief is there,” an affected resident said.
“We are still trying to come to terms with what happened. The support has given us some hope at a time when we were feeling helpless,” they added.
“I am beyond grateful to Miles2Smile for helping me out, for providing me the essentials, and for assisting me to restart,” another resident said.
“Had I not received the help, I would not have been able to arrange for the resources. It really meant a lot,” a resident said.
“We were worried about how we would cook after losing our kitchen and household items. The gas stove and cylinder have helped us manage our daily needs while we try to rebuild,” they added.
About Miles2Smile: Established nearly six years ago, the Miles2Smile Foundation is dedicated to making a positive impact on marginalized communities in India. From the crisis response during the pandemic to ongoing efforts in education and advocacy, the foundation remains steadfast in its commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
