A fire that broke out late Sunday night spread rapidly through the crowded market. Strong winds caused the blaze to intensify further. It is estimated that the fire has resulted in losses amounting to crores of rupees.
Fire-ravaged Jammu market left in ruins.
Shiv Market, once a bustling hub near the Jammu railway station, presented a scene of utter destruction on Monday morning. A large portion of this nearly four-decade-old market has been reduced to ashes. Around 40 shops were gutted; where there was a vibrant commercial atmosphere just a day earlier, only charred structures and piles of debris now remained.
The air was thick with the acrid smell of burnt goods. Shopkeepers were seen sifting through the debris, trying to assess their losses and salvage whatever they could. For many business owners, the scale of the devastation was difficult to comprehend.
Around 40 shops reduced to ashes.
Approximately 40 shops—dealing in dry fruits, blankets, shawls, fabrics, and ready-made garments—were completely gutted. Nothing remained but ash and damaged skeletons of structures.
The fire, which started late Sunday night, spread quickly through the crowded market. Fanned by the wind, the flames grew even more ferocious. It is estimated that the incident has caused losses worth crores of rupees.
“We built our businesses through years of hard work, but in just one night, everything has been reduced to ashes,” said Ashok Kumar, one of the shopkeepers, speaking to PTI. “We don’t know where to begin now, or how we will ever recover from this loss.”
Business owners share their ordeal
Kumar, who has been operating in the market for nearly two decades, stated that this catastrophe has jeopardized the livelihoods of hundreds of people.
“We have families and children to feed,” he said. “With our shops gone, how are we supposed to earn a living? Around 300 employees are associated with businesses here; their families, too, will suffer as a result of this fire.”
Some shopkeepers arrived at the market during the night upon learning of the fire, while others reached the scene on Monday morning.
Another business owner, Mohan, recounted, “The fire spread so rapidly that we couldn’t save much of our stock. Employees arrived during the night and tried their best to retrieve goods, but the blaze was so intense that very little could be salvaged.”
He shared that four of his shops were gutted, and all the merchandise inside was reduced to ashes.
The business owners also pointed to the narrow lanes of the market, noting that these hindered the firefighters’ efforts. Fire tenders were deployed, and personnel had to create an access route from the rear to reach the affected area.
This loss comes at a particularly difficult time for the business owners, with the festive season approaching—a period that typically sees a surge in trade. The proximity to the railway station ensures a steady flow of travelers, who often become customers. Furthermore, many shopkeepers rely on the patronage of pilgrims visiting the shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi.
Another shopkeeper, Raj Kumar, added, “We were expecting strong sales during the festive season. The railway station is nearby, and the market usually attracts a large number of customers. Many of us also depend on the pilgrims traveling to visit Mata Vaishno Devi.” “Now, after this fire, we have no idea how we will recover our losses.”
Bittu Sharma stated that if the fire brigade had arrived on time, much of the damage could have been prevented.
“The fire engines arrived about an hour and a half later,” he said. “When we saw the fire at night, the situation was truly terrifying.” He explained that staff reached the market during the night and tried their best to retrieve goods, but due to the intensity of the fire, they were only able to save a very small portion of the stock.
Sharma mentioned that when he arrived at his shop after receiving news of the fire around 11:00 PM, the condition of the market was already dire.
Shopkeepers distressed over the loss of their livelihoods
Vishwamitra, president of the Traders’ Association, stated that the scale of the devastation points to massive financial losses. Initial estimates suggest that property worth crores of rupees may have been destroyed in the fire.
“Our entire livelihood depends on these shops,” he said. “We had invested our savings into our businesses and stocked up on goods for sale. It is heartbreaking to see everything reduced to ashes. We don’t know how we will ever recover from such a massive loss.”
Distressed by the destruction of their shops and the loss of their livelihoods, the shopkeepers have strongly appealed to the government for a comprehensive relief package, which would enable them to rebuild their businesses and get their lives back on track.
The business owners have urged the administration to prioritize the assessment of the damage, provide adequate compensation, and assist in the reconstruction of the damaged shops. They emphasized that government support is crucial for them to overcome this crisis and resume their livelihoods.
Follow Us on… 
+