SRINAGAR: Traders at Jammu’s Warehouse-Nehru Market complex, the city’s largest wholesale grain market, have called a complete 48-hour shutdown following a devastating fire that gutted more than 15 shops and godowns during Diwali night.
Some members of the traders’ federation have extended the shutdown to 72 hours, while loading and unloading operations have been suspended across the market as traders express solidarity with those affected and demand government intervention.
The Warehouse Traders Association has accused the Fire and Emergency Services Department of a delayed response, alleging that fire tenders took around 90 minutes to reach the site despite the presence of a nearby fire station. The traders have demanded an inquiry into the alleged delay and accountability for the response.
The fire reportedly broke out during Diwali night and spread rapidly through the premises, with combustible materials, including edible oil and ghee, believed to have fuelled the blaze. Shops numbered 48 to 54 were among those heavily damaged. A firecracker is suspected to have triggered the incident, although the cause has not been officially established.
The shutdown has also affected routine wholesale market operations, with traders stopping the movement of goods and loading and unloading activities to facilitate the clearance of debris from the affected premises.
The traders and business representatives have demanded immediate compensation for those who suffered losses and sought government permission for the reconstruction of damaged shops without delay.
They have also called for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fire and the time taken by emergency services to reach the spot.
The incident comes days after another major fire at Shiv Market near Jammu railway station, where around 40 shops were reduced to ashes, raising fresh concerns among the trading community over fire safety and emergency response arrangements in the city.
