Jammu, Oct 26: A fire that broke out at a market near Jammu Railway Station late Sunday night gutted around 40 shops, destroying goods worth lakhs of rupees and dealing a major blow to traders, officials said on Monday.
No casualties were reported in the blaze at Shiv Market, which broke out around 10.30 pm and was brought under control at about 3.15 am after nearly five hours of firefighting, they said.
Most of the shops gutted in the fire dealt in food supplies, dry fruits and blankets, leaving shopkeepers facing heavy losses.
Preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit in one of the shops may have triggered the fire, which spread rapidly across the market, aided by strong winds, officials said.
The narrow approach to the market made it difficult for firefighters to reach the affected shops directly. Firefighting teams had to approach the blaze from the rear of the market to contain the flames and prevent them from spreading further, they added.
Despite sustained efforts by emergency services, the fire continued to consume merchandise and shop structures for several hours before being brought under control in the early hours of Monday.
The cause of the fire is yet to be established conclusively, and further investigation is underway, officials said. (KNS)
