SRINAGAR: Traders at Jammu’s Warehouse Nehru Market on Wednesday called off their planned three-day shutdown after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a high-level inquiry into the alleged lapses and delays in the response of the Fire and Emergency Services Department during a major fire at the wholesale market.
The decision to resume normal business operations followed the constitution of a two-member inquiry committee headed by Jammu Divisional Commissioner Vikas Kundal and Inspector General of Police Tejinder Singh.
The committee has been directed to ascertain the exact cause of the fire, examine the alleged failures in the emergency response, fix responsibility and submit its report within 15 days.
The fire, which broke out at the Warehouse Nehru Market complex, Jammu’s largest wholesale grain market, destroyed more than 15 shops and godowns, causing extensive losses to traders.
The Traders Federation Warehouse Nehru Market, led by its president Deepak Gupta, had alleged serious negligence by the Fire and Emergency Services Department, claiming that fire tenders took around 90 minutes to reach the spot despite a fire station being located barely five minutes away.
Protesting against the alleged delay, traders had announced a three-day shutdown in the market.
The federation decided to withdraw the strike following the Lieutenant Governor’s inquiry order and assurances regarding an investigation into the incident. Discussions are also underway over financial compensation and relief measures for the affected traders.
Normal commercial activities in the market are expected to resume following the withdrawal of the shutdown.
