People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti visited the fire-affected Warehouse Market in Jammu and interacted with traders who suffered substantial losses in a devastating blaze that engulfed several shops on Diwali night.
During her visit, Mufti expressed solidarity with the affected business owners and heard their concerns regarding the destruction of shops, stocks and other business assets. The fire has dealt a major setback to traders operating in one of Jammu’s prominent wholesale commercial centres.
She called upon the Central Government and the Jammu and Kashmir Government to extend adequate financial assistance to the affected traders, stating that many families would struggle to rebuild their businesses without institutional support.
Speaking about the scale of the damage, Mufti estimated that losses could run between ₹200 crore and ₹300 crore. She stressed that immediate intervention was necessary to help traders recover from the financial setback and resume their commercial activities.
She pointed out that several traders had established their businesses through bank loans, personal savings and even by selling family jewellery. The destruction of their shops has therefore placed considerable pressure on families whose livelihoods depend on these commercial establishments.
Mufti also raised concerns over the preparedness of emergency services during the festive period. She questioned the adequacy of the firefighting arrangements and alleged that delays in deploying suitable fire tenders had contributed to the extent of the damage. She called for a review of the response mechanism to ensure better preparedness in busy commercial areas.
Referring to the earlier fire incident at Shiv Market near Jammu Railway Station, she noted that traders affected by that blaze were also awaiting adequate assistance. She urged the authorities to formulate a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package covering victims of both incidents.
The PDP president further highlighted the impact on employees working in the affected shops, pointing out that the destruction of businesses had also put the livelihoods of numerous workers and their families at risk.
She appealed to the governments to rise above political considerations and prioritise the rehabilitation of affected traders, enabling them to restart their businesses and support their families.
The Warehouse Market fire has once again brought attention to the need for stronger fire safety infrastructure, improved emergency response arrangements and effective preventive measures across Jammu’s major commercial establishments.
