J-K LG orders probe into Jammu market fire sets up 2-member panel

     Jammu/Srinagar, Nov 11 (PTI) Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday ordered a probe into the fire at Warehouse Nehru Market here and formed a two-member committee to ascertain the cause and circumstances that led to the blaze on Diwali night.

     A Lok Bhawan spokesperson said Sinha constituted the committee comprising the Inspector General of Police, Jammu, Tejinder Singh, and Divisional Commissioner Vikas Kundal.

     "The committee is directed to probe any lapses or negligence, fix responsibility, and submit its report within 15 days," the spokesperson said.

     Several shops were gutted in the blaze on Sunday night at the historic market, one of the oldest commercial hubs of Jammu known for its wholesale trade in foodgrains, edible oil, essential commodities and other daily-use items.

     The probe order follows allegations by shopkeepers that fire tenders arrived late at the spot.

     The Fire and Emergency Services Department on Monday refuted allegations that fire tenders took approximately one-and-a-half hours to reach the site, saying available records and CCTV footage do not substantiate the charges.

     The Warehouse Nehru Market Federation observed shutdown of Jammu’s largest wholesale grain market till Wednesday in support of the demand for strict action against fire officials whose alleged negligence contributed to the massive fire.

     Federation president Deepak Gupta claimed that the fire services responded very slow and the fire tenders reached the site 90 minutes after the fire broke out in the market, damaging 10 shops.

     Union minister Jitendra Singh, 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 had told reporters here.

     PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, who visited the fire spot, also raked up the issue of delay in arrival of fire tenders.

     The historic market has been serving traders, retailers and consumers since the 1950s.

     The fire at Nehru Market is the second major fire incident in Jammu in a little over a fortnight.

     A major fire broke out at Shiv Market on the night of October 25 and continued till next morning, engulfing at least 40 shops and destroying property worth crores of rupees.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)