Jammu: A massive fire broke out at Shiv Market, located directly opposite Jammu Railway Station, late Sunday night, gutting several shops and raising fears of losses worth crores of rupees.
The fire reportedly started at around 10:30 pm and quickly spread from one shop to another, triggering panic in the busy market. Shops selling dry fruits, clothes, blankets and other goods were among those affected as flames intensified and reached the upper floors of the establishments.
Firefighters faced a challenging task in bringing the blaze under control, as combustible materials stored inside the shops fuelled the flames. Meanwhile, shopkeepers rushed to the scene and desperately tried to salvage their merchandise and protect neighbouring shops from the spreading fire.
However, the rapidly advancing flames prevented many traders from removing all their stock, leaving large quantities of goods destroyed. Several shopkeepers watched helplessly as their shops and years of hard-earned savings were reduced to ashes.
According to traders, some shops contained merchandise worth between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 60 lakh, while others reportedly stored goods worth considerably more. Consequently, the overall financial losses are feared to run into crores of rupees.
The exact extent of the damage has not yet been assessed. Further details regarding the cause of the fire and the final loss estimate are awaited.
The incident has dealt a major blow to traders operating in Shiv Market, with several businesses facing substantial financial losses.
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