Fire destroys 15 shops in Jammu warehouse market
Chief minister Omar Abdullah has ordered immediate relief for shopkeepers after a blaze gutted a commercial hub in Bikram Chowk on Sunday night.
A major fire gutted approximately 15 shops at the Warehouse Nehru Market in Bikram Chowk, Jammu, on Sunday night, according to the Hindustan Times.
The blaze occurred in one of the oldest commercial areas in Jammu, which is a wholesale hub for essential commodities, edible oil, and foodgrains. No injuries were reported during the incident.
Chief minister Omar Abdullah directed the district administration to provide swift assistance and relief to the affected shopkeepers. The chief minister’s office stated on X that Abdullah expressed sympathy for those impacted by the fire.
Warehouse Association president Deepak Gupta alleged that the fire and emergency services department was negligent. Gupta claimed that although a fire station is located five minutes from the site, only two fire tenders reached the location about 90 minutes after the fire started.
Gupta called for the suspension of the responsible officials and demanded accountability for the delayed response. He alleged the delay allowed the flames to spread further.
Department officials denied the allegations, stating they responded to the first call immediately by sending two fire tenders from the closest station, with more reinforcements arriving from other locations.