LG Sinha, CM Omar assure relief
JAMMU, Nov 9: A massive fire that broke out at Jammu’s historic Warehouse Nehru Market on Diwali night gutted at least a dozen shops and godowns, destroying huge stocks of foodgrains, edible oil, ghee and other essential commodities and causing losses estimated at several crores of rupees.
The incident triggered protests by traders, who observed a complete shutdown across the Warehouse market and Bikram Chowk on Monday, alleging a delayed response by the Fire and Emergency Services Department that allowed the blaze to spread to adjoining establishments.
The fire erupted around 8:30 pm on Sunday in Block-C of the wholesale market and rapidly engulfed neighbouring shops and godowns. Establishments numbered 48 to 54 were among the worst affected. The presence of large quantities of edible oil, ghee and other combustible materials further intensified the blaze.
While a spark from Diwali fireworks is suspected to have triggered the fire, the exact cause has not been officially established. No casualties were reported.
Warehouse Traders Association president Deepak Gupta alleged that only two fire tenders reached the spot nearly 90 minutes after the incident, despite the nearest fire station being barely five minutes away. He also claimed that fire brigade officials initially failed to respond to phone calls and demanded accountability if negligence was established.
Fire and Emergency Services officials, however, rejected the allegations, maintaining that the distress call was attended to promptly. They said two fire tenders from the nearest station were dispatched immediately, while additional vehicles from other stations were mobilised as the operation expanded.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the situation and directed senior officials to ensure immediate and comprehensive relief to the affected traders. He expressed sympathies with the business community and assured all possible assistance.
Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh visited the fire-hit Kamla Market and interacted with affected traders to assess the damage. He urged the J&K Government to consider compensation for those who suffered losses and called for a standard operating procedure (SOP) for fire-prone commercial areas to strengthen safety arrangements and ensure a coordinated emergency response.
Expressing concern over allegations of a delayed firefighting response, Singh said the matter was disturbing and called for appropriate action. He, however, appreciated the efforts of the firefighting personnel, saying their intervention helped prevent loss of life.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed grief over the incident and directed the district administration to provide immediate relief and necessary assistance to the affected traders. He ordered a thorough assessment of the losses and appropriate measures to address their needs.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Vikas Kundal said the fire had been largely brought under control, with efforts continuing to extinguish the remaining flames.
BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa also expressed concern over the destruction and called for strengthening firefighting arrangements in major commercial markets. (Inputs from KNO, KNT)
