Major fire destroys 40 shops in Jammu Railway Station commercial area

A massive fire tore through a commercial district near Jammu Railway Station on Tuesday, reducing dozens of shops to ashes and leaving traders assessing substantial losses. The blaze consumed roughly 40 retail establishments in the congested marketplace, sending plumes of smoke across the area and prompting immediate intervention by fire and emergency personnel.

The exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, though initial reports suggest the incident occurred during business hours. The proximity of the affected zone to the railway station, a major transit hub in the region, raised concerns about potential disruptions to services, though authorities confirmed that train operations were not directly impacted.

Local authorities cordoned off the affected area as firefighting teams worked to contain and extinguish the flames. The incident has raised fresh concerns about fire safety standards in commercial clusters across Jammu, particularly in older, densely constructed marketplaces where retail units are situated in close proximity to one another.

Damage assessments were underway, with preliminary reports indicating significant financial losses for shop owners and traders. Authorities have launched preliminary investigations to determine the fire's origin and identify any lapses in safety protocols that may have contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze.