An Army spokesperson, on Saturday, said that a lieutenant colonel was charred to death in an overnight fire in Kashmir’s northern district of Bandipora, some 35 km from Srinagar. Lt. Colonel Sarang Apte died after a mysterious fire engulfed a barrack in which he was sleeping inside an army camp on Friday night, army officials said on Saturday not clearly clarifying what caused the blaze.

Thirty seven year old Apte was second in command of counter -insurgency 5 Para unit of the Army.

"The cause of fire likely seems to be due to a short circuit. It is being investigated," said Army spokesman, JS Brar.

The fire damaged some huts inside the camp. “Mostly made of wood, some operational shelters were also damaged in the fire,” Brar said.