Fire guts shops in Jammu's Nehru Market
A blaze destroyed at least a dozen shops in Jammu on Sunday night, while another fire broke out in Kathua district.
A fire gutted at least a dozen shops in the historic Nehru Market in Jammu city on Sunday night, November 8, according to Siasat. A separate blaze also broke out at a store room in the district police lines in Kathua district at 9.50 pm. No casualties were reported in either incident, which occurred during Diwali firecracker celebrations.
The Fire and Emergency Services Department stated the Nehru Market fire began in a shop around 9.15 pm and spread quickly because of stored edible oil. The Warehouse Nehru Market serves as a wholesale hub for food grains and essential commodities. Divisional Commissioner Jammu Vikas Kundal said the fire had been largely brought under control and efforts were underway to extinguish remaining flames in the last one or two shops.
Warehouse Association president Deepak Gupta alleged gross negligence by the fire brigade, claiming only two fire engines arrived after an hour and a half despite the fire station being five minutes away. Gupta also alleged that officials did not initially answer phone calls.
BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa said at least eight shops were destroyed, causing estimated losses of crores of rupees. Randhawa stated the administration should have stationed fire tenders at major markets following a recent fire in Shiv Market near the Jammu Railway Station. He said the Fire and Emergency Services failed to learn from past incidents.