Blaze Engulfs Sheep Breeding Complex in Doda, Kashmir

Early on Saturday, just as the sun was beginning to peek over the hills of Doda, a fire ignited in the District Sheep Breeding Complex. The flames first licked the walls of an aging shed that housed what officials call “dead stock”—old paper records, a rust‑ridden refrigerator and a handful of other discarded departmental items.

Dr. Mohammad Ilyas, a veterinary surgeon with the Sheep Husbandry Department, told reporters that the blaze started around 6 a.m. He described the scene with a hint of disbelief, "You could actually smell the burnt plastic and metal as the fire grew," before fire engines raced to the site. Within minutes the local fire brigade had the situation under control, though not before the old shed was heavily damaged.

At this stage, the exact cause of the fire remains a mystery. “We have called in the fire department, and they are doing what they do best—extinguishing the flames,” Dr. Ilyas said. “The investigation will tell us why it started, and we’ll assess the damage once we get back to the records.”

It’s worth noting that the complex is not the only place in the district dealing with fire‑related troubles. Just a few days earlier, a forest fire broke out in Drabshalla near the Kishtwar‑Doda boundary, prompting a full‑scale response from the Forest Department. While that blaze was a separate incident, officials say the recent uptick in fires is prompting a closer look at safety protocols across the region.

Authorities have pledged a thorough inquiry and are urging the public not to jump to conclusions. In the meantime, the damaged records—some dating back years—will have to be reconstructed, a task that could take weeks. The incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a forgotten shed can become a hazard, and how vital quick‑response teams are in safeguarding both property and history.