SRINAGAR: National Conference Additional General Secretary and former minister Ajay Kumar Sadhotra on Monday demanded a high-level, time-bound inquiry into the massive fire at a warehouse in Nehru Market, Jammu, and adequate compensation for traders who suffered extensive losses.
Visiting the fire-ravaged premises, Sadhotra said the incident had reportedly caused losses worth hundreds of crores of rupees, severely affecting the business community and the livelihoods of numerous families.
Interacting with Deepak Gupta, president of the Traders Federation Warehouse-Nehru Market, and other members of the association, he questioned the reported delay in the arrival of fire tenders and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said the inquiry must establish the exact cause of the fire, identify any lapses and fix responsibility wherever negligence was established. It should also examine whether a more timely response by the Fire and Emergency Services Department could have prevented or minimised the extensive damage, he said.
Sadhotra questioned how such large-scale destruction could occur despite the department reportedly being on alert during the Diwali festive period.
He said he had spoken to the Chief of Fire and Emergency Services, who informed him that 27 fire tenders had been deployed to tackle the blaze. Sadhotra added that he would take up the matter with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to ensure appropriate government intervention.
Describing the warehouse as a vital supply centre for Jammu city and other parts of Jammu and Kashmir, he stressed the need for immediate relief, rehabilitation and a fair compensation package for all affected traders and other victims.
He urged the government not to treat the incident as a routine fire tragedy, calling for accountability, transparency and concrete measures to strengthen fire safety and emergency response mechanisms across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in Jammu.
Sadhotra also called for periodic audits of the functioning of the Fire and Emergency Services Department, with public participation, to assess its preparedness and response capabilities.
Ramesh Gupta, president of the Mahajan Sabha, was also present during the visit.
Those accompanying Sadhotra included Provincial Secretary Mohd Ayoub Malik, Rajesh Bakshi, Veer Ji Bhat, Ashwani Charak, Parwinder Singh, Shabir and Asanand.
