A devastating fire has ravaged a four-decade-old market near Jammu Railway Station, reducing approximately 40 shops to ashes and leaving hundreds of traders and workers facing an uncertain future. The blaze, which erupted late Sunday night, spread rapidly through the congested Shiv Market, engulfing establishments that dealt in dry fruits, blankets, shawls, clothes, and readymade garments. The acrid smell of burnt goods still lingered on Monday morning as shopkeepers sifted through the smoldering debris, attempting to salvage what little remained of their businesses.
The once-bustling marketplace, a hub for commerce and a source of livelihood for many, now presents a grim picture of charred structures and twisted metal. For traders like Ashok Kumar, who has operated in the market for nearly two decades, the destruction represents the loss of years of hard work. “Everything has been reduced to ashes in a single night. We do not know where to begin or how we will recover from these losses,” Kumar stated, emphasizing the dire impact on the livelihoods of hundreds of people, including around 300 workers who depend on the businesses in the market. Information reaching Tahir Rihat suggests that the estimated losses are expected to run into crores of rupees.
Traders recounted the harrowing experience of witnessing the rapid spread of the flames. Mohan, another shopkeeper, explained that despite the efforts of workers who rushed to the market during the night, the intensity of the fire made it impossible to save much. “The flames were spreading so quickly that we could not save much. Workers came here during the night and tried their best to take out the goods, but the fire was too intense,” he said, adding that his family lost four shops in the blaze, with all merchandise turned to ash. The narrow access lanes within the market were also cited as a significant impediment to firefighting efforts, with fire tenders reportedly having to approach the affected area from the rear.
The timing of the disaster is particularly cruel for the traders, as it comes just before the festive season, a period that typically sees a surge in business due to the steady flow of passengers from the nearby railway station. Many shopkeepers also rely on pilgrims visiting the revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine for their income. Raj Kumar, a shopkeeper, expressed his despair, stating, “We were hoping for good sales during the festive season. The railway station is nearby, and the market usually sees a good number of customers. Many of us also depend on pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi. Now, after this fire, we do not know how we will make up for the losses.”
Concerns were also raised regarding the response time of emergency services. Bittu Sharma, a trader, claimed that the fire brigade arrived approximately one-and-a-half hours after the fire broke out, suggesting that timely intervention could have mitigated much of the damage. “The fire brigade arrived around one-and-a-half hours later. The situation was terrible when we saw it at night,” Sharma recounted, noting that desperate attempts by workers to retrieve merchandise were largely unsuccessful due to the ferocity of the flames. Sharma himself returned to his shop after learning about the fire at 11 pm, only to find the market in a devastating state.
BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa, who visited the scene during the firefighting operations, acknowledged the extensive destruction, stating that almost the entire market had borne the brunt of the fire. Vishva Mitra, the president of the traders’ union, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the substantial financial losses. Preliminary estimates suggest that property worth crores of rupees may have been destroyed. “Our entire livelihood depends on these shops. We had invested our savings in the business and stocked goods for sale. Seeing everything reduced to ashes is heartbreaking. We do not know how we will recover from such a huge loss,” Mitra commented.
In the wake of the catastrophic fire, the affected shopkeepers have made an urgent appeal to the government for a comprehensive relief package. They are seeking assistance to rebuild their businesses and restore their livelihoods. The traders are urging the administration to prioritize the assessment of losses, provide adequate compensation, and extend support for the reconstruction of the damaged shops, emphasizing that government intervention is crucial to help them overcome this crisis and resume their economic activities.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.