Jammu: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Monday called for a review of the fire response to the blaze at the Warehouse Nehru Market here and stressed the need for an SOP to ensure firefighting arrangements at the sensitive commercial locations, particularly during festive seasons.
At least eight shops were gutted amid bursting of Diwali firecrackers at the historic market, one of the oldest commercial hubs in Jammu known for its wholesale trade in foodgrains, edible oil and essential commodities, in the Bikram Chowk area late Sunday night.
Singh, the Udhampur Lok Sabha MP who visited the spot on Monday, said complaints had been received that the response by the Fire and Emergency Services was not prompt enough, and that the matter had been discussed with the authorities.
“There should be a standard operating procedure (SOP) for festive periods, with sensitive locations identified in advance and firefighting forces and equipment kept on standby to ensure immediate response, particularly when there is a possibility of fireworks and firecrackers,” he told reporters here.
Noting that no life was lost in the fire, Singh said some employees who otherwise sleep inside shops had gone home to celebrate Diwali.
“I have been told that some employees stay inside these shops. However, since it was Diwali, they had gone home to celebrate with their families. Otherwise, it could have turned into a major tragedy, overshadowing the festival with a huge loss,” the minister of state holding multiple portfolios said.
Several shops in the warehouse area stored inflammable materials, including cotton and oil, which could have accelerated the spread of fire, Singh said.
The minister urged the fire department to work with the warehouse association, including its president Deepak Gupta, to form guidelines for safe storage and strengthen preventive measures.
“The responsibility of the fire department is not limited to extinguishing flames; it must also focus on preventing fire incidents,” he said.
On the financial losses suffered by the traders, Singh said commercial properties are not covered under the existing State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) norms guiding financial assistance to victims of notified natural disasters.
“We will, therefore, request the UT government to take special cognisance of the matter and explore the possibility of providing compensation to the affected traders under a special category,” Singh said.
The matter has been taken up with the UT government and “we will follow up on it”, he said.
The minister also called for revisiting the long-pending proposal to shift the warehouse to an alternative location, with adequate space for traders to continue their businesses.
He said a meeting would be arranged with officials, trader bodies and trade union representatives to discuss the matter.
Earlier, Singh said in a post on X, “Deeply shocked by the massive fire that broke out in the WareHouse area of Jammu city last night, resulting in enormous loss to the business community and traders.”
“It is also disturbing to hear allegations that the fire brigade services were not prompt enough in their response,” he said.
“While expressing my sympathies with the affected business community, I appeal to the authorities to take appropriate action and address the situation on priority.”
No casualties were reported in the fire.
