Jammu: The Jammu and Kashmir Fire and Emergency Services Department has denied allegations of a delayed response to the fire at Shiv Market, opposite Jammu Tawi Railway Station, stating that the first firefighting vehicles reached the site within eight minutes of receiving the emergency call.
In a clarification issued on Tuesday, the department said the fire call was received at 10:38 pm on October 25, following which a Quick Response Vehicle and a fire tender were dispatched at 10:42 pm and reached the site at approximately 10:46 pm.
The department also cited CCTV footage showing a firefighting vehicle near the railway crossing at around 10:43:44 pm as evidence of the response.
As the fire intensified, additional vehicles and personnel were mobilised from various fire stations across Jammu. A total of 18 firefighting vehicles took part in the operation, which continued through the night until the blaze was brought under control at around 4 am on October 26.
According to the department’s preliminary assessment, 29 shops were affected, while coordinated firefighting efforts prevented the flames from spreading to around 115 nearby shops and other adjoining properties.
The department said the operation was challenging due to the congested layout of Shiv Market, inadequate fire separation between adjoining shops and the presence of combustible materials, including dry fruits and blankets, which contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.
Rejecting allegations of undue delay, the department described reports questioning the response as misleading and urged media organisations and the public to verify information through official sources before circulating claims about emergency operations.
