JAMMU: The Warehouse-Nehru Market Federation has decided to keep the market closed till Wednesday, demanding strict action against Fire and Emergency Services officials whose alleged negligence contributed to the massive blaze that gutted several shops in Jammu’s wholesale market on Diwali night.
Addressing a meeting of senior Federation members at the Warehouse office on Monday evening, Federation President Deepak Gupta described the incident as tragic and unfortunate and appealed to political leaders not to politicise the tragedy for their political interests.
Gupta said representatives of various political parties had visited the affected market since morning to assess the damage and express their views. However, he expressed disappointment over what he described as attempts by certain leaders to use the incident for political gains and target the Lieutenant Governor-led administration.
“We are clearly stating that timely action by the Fire and Emergency Services Department could have prevented the extent of the damage. We demand strict action against officials whose negligence contributed to the incident. However, the entire administration cannot be held responsible,” Gupta said.
He maintained that timely intervention by the administration and police prevented the fire from spreading across the entire market. He expressed gratitude to Divisional Commissioner Jammu Vikas Kundal, Deputy Commissioner Minga Sherpa, ADC (Law and Order) Ansuya Jamwal, other administrative officers and senior police officials for reaching the spot during the night and monitoring the situation.
According to Gupta, senior officers personally supervised the operation and pressed the Fire and Emergency Services Department to act promptly, helping prevent the entire market from being reduced to ashes.
Reiterating the demand for accountability, Gupta said the Federation had initially called for a market shutdown on Monday following the incident. However, as no action had been taken against the officials concerned, members unanimously decided to extend the closure of Warehouse-Nehru Market till Wednesday.
Raising another long-pending concern, Gupta said the Federation had been demanding land outside Jammu city for the construction of warehouses for nearly a decade, but successive governments had failed to address the issue.
He pointed out that storing goods outside shops and in open spaces was among the factors that contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Had proper warehouse facilities been provided, he said, traders could have stored their valuable stocks more safely, potentially reducing the losses.
“If the government is genuinely concerned about the welfare of traders, it should immediately allot land outside the city for warehouses for Warehouse-Nehru Market traders. This long-pending demand must be addressed without further delay,” he said.
The meeting was attended by Senior Federation Vice President Dheeraj Mahajan, Vice President Vishal Gupta, General Secretary Abhimanyu Gupta, Secretary Rahul Gupta and Treasurer Nitish Mahajan. Also present were Rajesh Bhogatra, President, Sugar Merchant Association; Kirti Gupta, President, Dal Merchant Association; Ajay Gupta, President, Onion and Potato Merchant Association; Anil Gupta, President, Karyana Merchant Association; and former Traders Federation presidents Rajesh Gupta, Romesh Mahajan and Rattan Lal Gupta.
Several trading establishments dealing in grocery items, household goods, cotton, brooms, oil and pulses were among those affected by the blaze. The list of affected businesses includes Radha Krishan & Bros, RK Mahajan, Madan Lal Anadi Kumar, Charan Dass, Walait Ram, Chaman Lal Gupta & Son, Ranjit Lal Baldev Raj & Co, Om Prakash Ram Rattan Lal, Vikas Trading Company and Deepak Trading Co.
The Federation has called for accountability over the fire response and renewed its demand for dedicated warehouse facilities outside the city to prevent similar losses in the future.
