Jammu, Oct 26: Chamber of Commerce and Industry Jammu president Arun Gupta has expressed deep shock and anguish over the devastating fire incident at Shiv Market near Jammu Railway Station late night on Sunday.
Gupta said that the massive fire continued till Monday morning reducing the shops to ashes and causing enormous financial losses to the affected traders. “The estimated losses run into crores of rupees. The unfortunate incident has not only destroyed their shops and merchandise but has also shattered the hopes and livelihoods of these small traders, who have invested their lifetime savings in building their businesses,” Jammu Chamber president noted with concern.
Arun Gupta said that the affected shopkeepers were small traders and the sole breadwinners of their families.
The tragedy came at a particularly difficult time, as the festive season was about to begin and the traders had stocked their shops in anticipation of increased business. The loss of their entire stock and business establishments pushed them into severe financial distress and uncertainty, he maintained.
Arun Gupta, however, appreciated the administration especially Divisional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tehsildars, SP, DySP, SHO and other police officers, fire brigade personal and the members of the civil society with whose efforts the fire was brought under control and no loss of life took place in the incident.
Expressing solidarity with the affected traders, Arun Gupta appealed to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir and the district administration, Jammu, to intervene immediately and extend all possible assistance to the victims of this unfortunate tragedy.
The Jammu Chamber president appealed to the administration to allow the affected shopkeepers to immediately reconstruct their shops so that they could earn livelihood for their families.
Arun Gupta urged the government to extend special support to the affected traders, considering that they lost their entire stock and business at a time when the festive season was approaching.
He further stated that the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jammu, was standing firmly with the affected traders and would continue to raise their concerns with the concerned authorities to ensure that their genuine demands received due consideration.
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