Dozens of shops destroyed in massive fire at Jammu's Warehouse area

A massive fire that broke out on Sunday evening at the Warehouse complex near Bikram Chowk in Jammu has completely destroyed over a dozen shops. Following the tragedy, a political controversy has erupted regarding the government's efforts to control the blaze and its response. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti has accused the Omar Abdullah government of failing to prevent the incident or respond effectively.

After meeting the affected shopkeepers, Mehbooba Mufti stated that fire brigade vehicles arrived late at the scene. She further alleged that some fire tenders were too small in size and lacked sufficient water pressure, which made it difficult to control the fire. Describing the incident as a major tragedy, she said that the fire caused an estimated loss of ₹200 to ₹300 crore.

Terming the Warehouse area as the hub of Jammu's trade, Mufti stated that a fire had also broken out in Shiv Market a few days ago, but the traders affected in that incident have not yet been provided any compensation. She attacked the government, calling it shameful that there was no preparation from the administration despite the Diwali festivities. She questioned who would compensate for the losses incurred on such a large scale.

Expressing concern over the financial condition of the traders, Mehbooba Mufti said that many traders had even sold their jewelry to establish their businesses, and now they have lost everything in this fire. She demanded that the government should seek assistance from the Central government and announce a special relief package for the fire-affected traders of Shiv Market and the Warehouse area.

This fire has also had a major impact on employment. Mufti stated that there is already widespread unemployment in the country, and each shop provided employment to 10 to 12 people. Due to this fire, hundreds of families have been pushed into extreme distress. Following this incident, questions have also been raised regarding the government's response, specifically whether an official inquiry will be conducted into the delayed fire response.

On the other hand, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary also visited the affected area. Speaking to reporters, he said that he saw tears in the eyes of the traders and that the loss is significant. He assured that he would inform Chief Minister Omar Abdullah about the details of the damage suffered by the traders and the response to the fire. It was also mentioned that a report regarding the damage and the issues with the fire response would be submitted to the Chief Minister by the Deputy Chief Minister.

Mehbooba Mufti is a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). She has played an important role in the politics of Jammu and Kashmir and has previously served as the Chief Minister of the state.