J&K government promises probe and aid after Jammu market fire
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Minister Javed Rana visited the fire-hit Nehru Market to assess damage and investigate response delays.
Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary and Cabinet Minister Javed Rana visited the fire-hit Nehru Market warehouse in the Bikram Chowk area on Monday. The visit followed a blaze on Sunday night that gutted several shops in the historic commercial hub, according to reports by Daily Excelsior and Kashmir Observer.
The fire reportedly started in a shop and spread quickly due to the presence of edible oil. Warehouse association president Deepak Gupta alleged that the Fire and Emergency Services Department was negligent, claiming only two fire tenders arrived nearly 90 minutes after the fire began despite the station being five minutes away. Gupta stated that the delay allowed the blaze to engulf approximately 15 shops.
During the visit, some shopkeepers raised slogans against the government, claiming previous relief for the October 25 Shiv Market fire had been delayed. PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti also visited the site, stating that traders would struggle to restart businesses without government financial support. Mufti questioned if firefighting arrangements were adequate, noting that the deployed vehicles were too small.
Minister Javed Rana said that while the government might not cover the full extent of all losses, assistance would be provided based on set criteria. He promised a detailed investigation into the fire and the reported delay in emergency services. Deputy Chief Minister Choudhary said he would inform the Chief Minister of the grievances raised by the traders.
A BJP delegation, including Jammu Lok Sabha MP Jugal Kishore Sharma and Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma, also visited the market to demand compensation for the affected traders.