Jammu, Oct 26: Senior Congress leader and former DDC member from Suchetgarh T S Tony has criticised the Fire and Emergency Services Department alleging serious lapses in the emergency response to the devastating fire at Shiv Market near Jammu Railway Station.
He alleged that the delayed response might have contributed to the extensive destruction in the fire incident.
Questioning the department’s preparedness and response time, the Congress leader said it was deeply disturbing that a major fire broke out barely a short distance from the railway station, yet, according to allegations by traders and eyewitnesses, the fire brigade took nearly one-and-a-half hours to reach the affected market.
He alleged the reported delay raised serious questions about the department’s functioning, accountability and readiness to deal with emergencies.
“Remove the word ‘Emergency’ from the Fire Department if it cannot reach the spot in time. Book all erring officials and fix responsibility for this alleged negligence. People cannot be left at the mercy of a system that fails to respond when every second matters,” the Congress leader said.
He further alleged that the first fire tender reportedly reached the site without an adequate water supply, while subsequent assistance also arrived too late to prevent the fire from spreading. He demanded a time-bound inquiry into the deployment of fire tenders, the availability of water, the response time of the control room and the conduct of the officials responsible for the operation.
The Congress leader emphasised that these allegations must be investigated impartially and that any official found guilty of negligence or dereliction of duty should face strict departmental and legal action. He called for examination of emergency call records, dispatch logs, vehicle movement records and the operational readiness of the fire tenders deployed that night.
The massive fire that broke out at Shiv Market on Sunday continued for over five hours before being brought under control. Around 30 shops were completely gutted in the blaze. The exact extent of the losses remained under assessment.
The Congress leader said the incident had destroyed the hard-earned savings, merchandise and livelihoods of traders who had invested years of effort in building their businesses. He stressed that the administration must not allow affected families and shopkeepers to face the consequences alone.
He urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to immediately conduct a comprehensive damage assessment and provide adequate compensation and relief to every affected shopkeeper. He also called for temporary financial assistance to help traders restart their businesses and support the families and workers whose livelihoods depended on the damaged establishments.
Demanding a permanent solution, he said the Jammu Development Authority (JDA) should be directed to prepare a reconstruction and restructuring plan for the affected shops in consultation with the shopkeepers. The plan should prioritise safe construction, improved access for emergency vehicles, adequate fire-safety arrangements and proper infrastructure to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The Congress leader also called for a review of the Fire and Emergency Services Department’s preparedness across Jammu, particularly in crowded commercial areas, markets and locations near major public facilities. He said emergency vehicles must remain operational, adequately equipped with water and fire-fighting equipment and capable of reaching incident sites without avoidable delays.
“This is not merely a case of shops being gutted by fire; it is a serious question of public accountability. If the alleged delay and equipment failures are established, those responsible must be held accountable. The government must ensure justice for the affected traders, provide meaningful compensation and rebuild the damaged market with proper safety measures,” he asserted.
Reiterating his demand for strict action, the Congress leader said an independent and transparent inquiry was essential to establish whether the response of the Fire and Emergency Services Department met the required standards. He urged the government to act decisively against any officials found responsible and ensure that such alleged failures are not repeated.
He maintained that the immediate priorities must be accountability for the fire response, financial relief for affected shopkeepers and the safe reconstruction of the damaged market.
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