218 Jammu old city hotels-lodges at fire risk, lanes too narrow for fire brigades

Jammu: The devastating fire in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar has raised serious questions about the safety of hotels built without permits or in inaccessible areas across the country. Jammu is no exception, as many areas of the old city have narrow lanes where the number of hotels and lodges is constantly increasing. Cars can barely pass through these lanes, making it difficult for fire engines to reach the scene of a fire or emergency.
While well-known hotels and restaurants in Jammu generally comply with regulations, those operating in the narrow streets of the old city are still playing with fire as they lack adequate firefighting equipment. The total number of hotels registered with the Tourism Department in Jammu district is 301, of which 254 are hotels and lodges. Approximately 218 of these hotels and lodges are located in areas such as Jewel Chowk, Residency Road, Gummat, Prem Nagar, Talab Khattikan, and Gujjar Nagar, mostly in narrow lanes. Most of these hotels and lodges have restaurants and like the Flourish Stay Hotel in Delhi with most of the hotels and lodges have restaurants in the basement or ground floor.
In the 1960s, 13 hydrants were installed in the old city. Of these, only one is currently operational. Hydrants were installed in Mubarak Mandi, Kachi Chawni, Jewel Chowk, Residency Road, Parade, and other areas. Due to lack of coordination between the Public works Department and the PHE Department, these hydrants have become buried under the ground over time due to laying of bitumen. Currently, only one hydrant, located at the Civil Secretariat, is operational.
n April 2026, the Jammu Tourist Association wrote to the Jammu Municipal Commissioner, highlighting the potential dangers of a Delhi-like incident. The association recommended installing community fire hydrant systems for hotels located in narrow streets, enabling local residents to initiate rescue operations in case of an emergency. The letter highlighted vulnerable areas of the city where it would be nearly impossible for firefighters or rescue teams to reach. The association urged immediate implementation of safety measures, but these suggestions have not yet been implemented.
As per Zaffar Iqbal, Divisional Fire Officer Jammu, the department is fully capable of controlling fires with its existing staff and fire tenders. Firefighters arrive at the scene with fire tenders immediately upon receiving a fire alert, but often, when a fire breaks out in a location located in narrow streets, their task becomes challenging.
Fire fighting systems have been installed in every hotel and lodge, following the instructions of the Fire Department. While some older hotels and lodges may lack fire fighting systems, newer hotels and lodges are not. Fire fighting systems have been installed everywhere to ensure timely control of fires, said Pawan Gupta, President, All Jammu Hotel & Lodge Association.
Experts say that when granting permission for hotels in tourist destinations like Jammu, standards such as road width, fire access, and building height should be strictly adhered to. Retrofitting should be made mandatory for older hotels. Fire safety training should also be provided to the local community. Learning from the Delhi tragedy, the Jammu administration should survey hotels located in narrow streets and take immediate corrective measures. Otherwise, any incident could permanently damage the image of the tourist city of Jammu.
Meanwhile, the Divisional Commissioner Jammu has directed all Deputy Commissioners across the division to constitute district-level committees for conducting safety audits of hotels, guest houses and similar establishments, with a special focus on fire safety preparedness.
The order has been issued in view of the prevailing heatwave conditions, recent fire incidents and the need to ensure the safety of pilgrims and tourists visiting the region.
According to the directive, each district-level committee will comprise a magistrate, an officer from the Tourism Department, an officer from the Fire and Emergency Services Department, an officer from the Public Works (R&B) Department and a representative from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF).
The committees have been tasked with carrying out inspections of hotels and guest houses in their respective districts and assessing their compliance with fire safety norms and other safety measures.
Deputy Commissioners have been asked to ensure immediate implementation of the order and submit daily reports detailing the number of establishments inspected and their fire safety status, including whether they have been found safe or unsafe.
The initiative aims to strengthen safety standards in accommodation facilities across Jammu Division, particularly ahead of the peak tourist and pilgrimage season.