Associated News Bureau

Sixty (60) Fire Incidents Rock Jammu Province in 24 Hours; 35 Reported in Jammu District

JAMMU, NOVEMBER 09: Jammu and Kashmir Fire and Emergency Services attended 60 fire incidents across Jammu Province during the past 24 hours, including 35 in Jammu district alone, as a series of emergencies placed considerable demands on the department's firefighting resources. According to the department, 16 fire incidents were reported in Jammu district within approximately five hours from 7 PM onwards on November 8, including several major fires requiring the simultaneous deployment of firefighting teams and equipment. In view of the Diwali festivities, the department had made advance arrangements by positioning fire tenders at strategic locations, including Gole Market, Gandhi Nagar and Gangyal, to ensure a prompt response to emergencies. Regular fire stations also remained operational throughout the period. One of the incidents was reported at 8:37 PM at a five-storeyed residential-cum-commercial building in Pahari Mohalla. Four fire tenders from Gandhi Nagar Fire Station and two from City Fire Station were initially mobilised. With additional deployment, the number of fire tenders engaged rose to seven. The blaze was brought under control within approximately 45 minutes, followed by cooling operations. A major fire subsequently broke out at 9:18 PM at a warehouse-cum-shopping complex containing grocery and ration items, including cooking oil and ghee. The department mobilised 18 fire tenders from different fire stations and strategically positioned locations to contain the blaze. The fire was brought under control within approximately one-and-a-half hours, after which cooling operations were undertaken to prevent further spread or recurrence. Around seven shops sustained fire damage, while a large number of adjoining shops were saved. Police, SDRF and the District Administration assisted in the operation. Another fire incident was reported at 10:28 PM at a marriage tent in Garden Estate. Four fire tenders were immediately dispatched and reached the location within approximately seven to eight minutes. An additional tender from Bari Brahmana Fire Station was also sent as reinforcement. The fire was controlled within nearly 30 minutes. At 11:40 PM, a fire broke out on the third floor of Janta Medical Store at Shalimar, housed in a four-storeyed building. Five fire tenders were deployed, and the blaze was brought under control within approximately half an hour. Meanwhile, the Fire and Emergency Services Department issued a clarification regarding social media allegations of a delay of approximately one-and-a-half hours in the arrival of firefighting teams at the warehouse fire site. Referring to official deployment records and CCTV footage from the Smart City camera installed at Asian Hotel Crossing, the department stated that the emergency call was received at 9:18 PM, while the footage showed fire tenders proceeding towards the site at 9:38 PM. Three additional fire tenders reached the location approximately ten minutes later. The department maintained that the available official records did not substantiate the allegation of a one-and-a-half-hour delay in the arrival of fire tenders. Despite the unusually high number of fire emergencies within a short span, the department stated that all reported incidents were attended to promptly. It credited the coordinated efforts of Fire and Emergency Services, Police, SDRF and the District Administration with containing the fires and preventing their further spread. ANB