ANANTNAG — A somber atmosphere has gripped south Kashmir’s Anantnag district after a massive fire broke out at a local seminary during the early hours of Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The blaze, which tore through the Darul Uloom, claimed the life of a 12-year-old boy and left several others injured.

The fire erupted at approximately 1:30 am at the Faizan Baba Hyder Rishi Darul Uloom, located near the Mattan area. Panic ensued as the flames quickly spread through the building while students were asleep.

When fire and emergency services arrived, the entire attic portion of the seminary was already engulfed in flames. Personnel from the Fire and Emergency Services, supported by local residents and police, launched an immediate rescue operation that successfully evacuated 33 students present in the building.

Despite the rapid response, the fire resulted in heartbreaking casualties among the young residents. A 12-year-old student, identified as Bilal Ahmad Kumar of Wadwan village, sustained critical burn injuries and was tragically declared brought dead upon arrival at GMC Anantnag. Three other students—Sabit Fayaz, Sahil Ahmad, and Irfan Ahmad—sustained injuries during the blaze and are currently receiving medical treatment in stable condition.

Local authorities and fire officials have raised serious concerns regarding safety measures in educational institutions following the tragedy.

"Allowing children to sleep in attic portions is inherently unsafe," noted a Fire and Emergency Services official, who also urged the public to keep roads clear at night to ensure the timely movement of emergency vehicles.

Police have registered a case and initiated a formal investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire, which remains unknown at this stage. The community continues to mourn the loss of a young life as calls for stricter fire safety protocols in seminaries grow louder.