Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Leader of Opposition in the J&K Legislative Assembly, Sunil Sharma, on Monday visited the Warehouse Complex near Nehru Market in Jammu, where a massive fire on Sunday evening completely damaged more than 15 shops.
He was accompanied by MP Jugal Kishore Sharma, former J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina, MLAs Arvind Gupta, Yudhvir Sethi and Vikram Randhawa, and BJP State General Secretary Baldev Singh Billowria.
During the visit, Sharma met the affected traders, many of whom lost goods worth crores of rupees within minutes. He expressed solidarity and assured them that the BJP stands with every affected family. “In barely two weeks, Jammu has witnessed two devastating market fires: first at Shiv Market near the Railway Station and now at Nehru Market. These are not just shops; they represent the livelihoods of hundreds of families. Traders cannot be sent home with mere words of sympathy. They need relief on the ground and a concrete plan to ensure that such incidents do not happen again,” he said.
In consultation with BJP State President and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma, he announced a six-member committee headed by MLA Sham Lal Sharma (Jammu North). Its members are Dr Narinder Singh, MLAs Yudhvir Sethi, Vikram Randhawa and Arvind Gupta, and party General Secretary Baldev Singh Billowria.
The committee will assess the losses of traders at both Nehru Market and Shiv Market and prepare a list of affected traders. It will then take the matter up with the government to seek time-bound relief and rehabilitation, and pursue the demand that MLAs be allowed to use their Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to assist the traders.
Sharma demanded adequate and time-bound compensation for the traders of both markets, over and above routine relief norms, given the scale of losses. He also called for additional fire tenders in the Warehouse area, including compact tenders and quick response vehicles that can enter narrow market lanes. For the longer term, he urged the government to identify and allot a separate, isolated site for warehouses and storage of inflammable goods, away from crowded markets and residential areas.
Referring to the earlier Shiv Market fire, he said, “After the Shiv Market fire, the NC Government promised ‘all possible assistance’, but no relief amount or timeline has been made public so far. The Omar Government must now move from assurances to action.”
He reiterated that the traders deserve immediate relief, fair compensation and proper rehabilitation, and that the government must take concrete and time-bound steps and strengthen fire safety in Jammu’s commercial establishments.
The visit shows how fires at Jammu’s markets have turned into a political issue, with the opposition pressing the government on relief. The administration’s response to the demands is awaited.
