Massive Fire Guts 40 Shops at Shiv Market Near Jammu Railway Station; Losses Estimated in Crores

A massive fire broke out late Sunday night at Shiv Market, located opposite the Jammu Railway Station, reducing nearly 40 shops to ashes and leaving behind widespread destruction. By Monday morning, the four-decade-old market—traditionally a bustling commercial hub—was transformed into a landscape of charred metal frameworks, smoldering debris, and a heavy stench of burnt merchandise. The blaze ignited late Sunday evening and spread rapidly through the densely packed market area, fueled by strong winds. Shopkeepers sifting through the rubble on Monday morning faced immense financial losses estimated in crores of rupees. The affected establishments primarily dealt in dry fruits, blankets, shawls, garments, and ready-made apparel. Impact on Livelihoods and Local Traders The disaster has cast a shadow over the financial future of hundreds of individuals linked to the market ecosystem. Ashok Kumar, a shopkeeper operating in the market for two decades, expressed shock at the sudden loss, stating that years of hard work were wiped out overnight. He highlighted that nearly 300 employees work in the market, meaning the economic impact extends directly to their dependent families. Another trader, Mohan, lost four shops to the flames and noted that despite employees arriving during the night to salvage stock, the intensity of the inferno made rescue efforts largely impossible. Allegations of Delay and Structural Challenges Local business owners raised concerns regarding logistical obstacles during the firefighting operation. Traders pointed out that narrow market lanes hindered the easy movement of fire tenders. Additionally, shopkeeper Bittu Sharma alleged that fire brigade vehicles arrived approximately an hour and a half late, asserting that prompt intervention could have limited the scale of destruction. The timing of the tragedy is particularly severe as it comes just ahead of the peak festive season. Local merchant Raj Kumar noted that traders anticipated strong seasonal sales due to the market's proximity to the railway station and the regular influx of pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. Demands for Government Compensation Visiting the site during the night, BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa acknowledged the vast scale of damage. Trader Association President Vishwa Mittar confirmed that initial evaluations point to losses worth crores of rupees. Devastated shopkeepers and trade representatives have appealed to the administration and state government to conduct an immediate assessment of the damages and grant a comprehensive relief package to help rebuild their businesses.