Jammu, Oct 26 (KNO): Around 40 shops were gutted in a massive fire at Shiv Market near Jammu Railway Station late Sunday night, causing extensive damage to merchandise and property, officials said on Monday.
An official of the Fire and Emergency Services told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that no casualties were reported in the incident, which occurred around 10.45 pm on Sunday. “It took more than five hours to douse the flames,” he added.
The official said fire tenders from seven fire stations were rushed to the spot after information about the blaze was received. “The fire was brought under control around 4 am on Monday, following which a cooling operation was launched to prevent it from reigniting. One fire tender remained stationed at the site as a precautionary measure, while firefighting personnel continued to monitor the affected area,” he added.
Bitu Sharma, a shopkeeper, said traders were left helpless as the fire spread from one shop to another within a short time. He alleged that fire tenders reached the spot nearly one-and-a-half hours after the blaze broke out, claiming that the delay hampered efforts to contain the fire and salvage goods.
The shops, dealing mainly in food supplies, dry fruits and blankets, were gutted in the blaze. The exact extent of the damage was being assessed, and officials said it was too early to estimate the total value of the property and goods destroyed.
Preliminary investigations indicated that a short circuit in one of the shops might have triggered the fire, which subsequently spread to adjoining establishments. However, the exact cause of the blaze is yet to be conclusively established.
The narrow approach road leading to the market posed a major challenge for firefighting teams, forcing them to approach the affected area from the rear side to tackle the flames and prevent the fire from spreading further, officials said.
As the fire spread rapidly, shopkeepers made desperate attempts to salvage their merchandise. However, the intensity of the flames left many with little time to retrieve their belongings.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed deep anguish over the devastating fire and the extensive losses suffered by traders.
He directed the administration to extend all possible assistance to the affected shopkeepers.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Vikas Kundal, along with Deputy Commissioner Jammu and senior district administration officers, visited Shiv Market, the site of the fire, to assess the damage.
The Divisional Commissioner assured the affected traders of full administrative support and prompt assistance.
Arun Gupta, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry also visited the site alongside MLA Vikram Randhawa, who earlier visited the spot late Sunday night and monitored the situation. He assured the affected shopkeepers of all possible assistance in the aftermath of the incident.
Moreover, Mehraj Malik, MLA from Doda and J&K AAP President wrote to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and called for immediate compensation for affected traders and an impartial, time-bound inquiry into the alleged delay in the arrival of the fire services team to control the blaze—(KNO)