Jammu: PDP President and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Sunday questioned the delay in providing financial assistance to shopkeepers affected by a fire that ravaged Shiv Market near Jammu railway station, urging the government to provide immediate support to help them rebuild their businesses.
The massive fire broke out in Shiv Market on the night of October 25 and continued for several hours, engulfing at least 40 shops and destroying property worth crores of rupees.
“A lot of damage has taken place here. These are small shopkeepers, not big businessmen. They have taken loans and are already burdened with debt. Their shops have been destroyed. I sincerely appeal to the government to provide them with as much assistance as possible so that they can rebuild their shops,” Mehbooba Mufti said as she visited the market to assess damage from a blaze that gutted dozens of shops last month.
Mufti arrived in Jammu on Saturday, on her first trip to the winter capital since being unanimously re-elected party president for her fifth consecutive term on November 5. She is scheduled to return to Srinagar on Monday.
During her visit to Shiv Market, Mufti met with the affected shopkeepers, expressed solidarity, and offered her sympathy for the losses suffered in the fire.
She pointed out that the goods stocked in the shops were also destroyed in the fire, adding that most of the merchandise had been purchased on credit, leaving the traders with the added burden of repaying their debts.
“I urge the government to take this matter seriously and provide maximum financial assistance at the earliest. How long will these shops remain in such a devastated condition? They should have been provided assistance. The affected shopkeepers need immediate financial support to rebuild their shops, restock their businesses and resume their livelihoods so that they can support their families,” the PDP leader said.
Later, Mehbooba Mufti visited Balgram, a charitable home for destitute and underprivileged children in Jammu’s Narwal area, where she celebrated Diwali with the inmates. She spent around an hour at the institution, participated in the celebrations and shared lunch with the children.
She also interacted with the inmates and management members, who apprised her of various issues concerning the institution, including its lease and the children’s welfare.
Mufti assured the management that she would take up the issues with the concerned authorities to ensure the institution’s continued functioning and a safe and secure future for the children.
