A massive fire at the well-known Jahajgarh Market in Amritsar, Punjab, caused heavy losses. Several shops and goods worth lakhs to crores of rupees kept inside them were reduced to ashes. The market is known for automobile spare parts and scrap trade. The blaze spread so rapidly that panic gripped the entire area within a short time, and a thick plume of smoke was seen rising into the sky.
As soon as information about the incident was received, more than half a dozen fire brigade vehicles reached the spot. According to some reports, around 10 fire tenders were deployed to douse the flames. Firefighters had to struggle for several hours. Narrow lanes in the market, large generators kept on the routes and encroachments made it difficult for fire vehicles to reach the site. Flammable material such as tyres, foam, wood and scrap helped the fire spread further.
Local MLA Dr. Jeevanjot Kaur reached the spot and reviewed the relief work. She said most shops in the market were closed because of Vishwakarma Day, which reduced the possibility of major loss of life and property. However, some media reports also said people suffered burn injuries during efforts to extinguish the fire.
After the incident, traders accused the administration of negligence. They said fire incidents had occurred in the market earlier as well, but no action was taken on demands for a permanent fire-fighting arrangement and removal of encroachments. For now, the cause of the fire and the actual economic loss are being assessed.
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