Jammu, Oct 28 Jammu and Kashmir BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP Sat Sharma on Wednesday assured traders affected by a fire at Shiv Market near Jammu railway station that he would take up the matter with the chief minister and seek compensation through relief funds or a special package.
The fire broke out on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, gutting around 40 shops and reducing a busy commercial stretch to rubble.
Accompanied by MLA Choudhary Vikram Randhawa, Sharma visited the market to assess the damage and interacted with affected shopkeepers, assuring them of all possible assistance.
Expressing concern over the losses, Sharma said the fire had destroyed years of hard work, savings and livelihoods, leaving several families facing an uncertain future, particularly during the ongoing festive season.
“The traders of Shiv Market have suffered a devastating blow, with years of hard work and their savings reduced to ashes in moments. We cannot allow these families to feel abandoned in their hour of distress. The BJP stands with people when they face the toughest challenges and will make every sincere effort to help them,” Sharma said.
He said he would take up the matter with the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and explore all possible avenues for financial relief, including assistance through an appropriate relief fund, an available government scheme or a special relief and rehabilitation package from the Union Territory government.
Sharma urged the administration to assess the losses promptly and extend all permissible assistance. He said the BJP would pursue the matter with the concerned authorities to ensure that the affected traders’ genuine demands received due attention.
Randhawa expressed solidarity with the traders, saying the fire had reduced years of hard work and valuable merchandise to ashes. He assured them that their demands would be raised with the concerned departments and efforts made to facilitate relief and compensation.
(PTI News)
