Inferno Near Jammu Railway Station: 40 Shops, Hotel Gutted
A devastating blaze at Shiv Market opposite Jammu railway station gutted nearly 40 shops and a hotel, causing losses of several crore rupees.
A massive fire tore through the heart of Shiv Market, located directly opposite the Jammu railway station fire site, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The blaze, which broke out late on the night of October 25 or in the early hours of October 26, 2026, rapidly engulfed a significant portion of the commercial hub, destroying dozens of businesses and a hotel.
Chaos at Shiv Market
The fire spread with alarming speed, consuming approximately 35 to 40 shops. The market, a bustling center for trade, specialized in a variety of goods including clothing, blankets, food items, and dry fruits. Because of the intensity and speed of the flames, shopkeepers were left helpless, reporting that they were unable to salvage any of their inventory before the fire took over.
Firefighting units were deployed to the scene and battled the inferno for several hours. It was only by the morning of October 26 that the crews managed to bring the situation under control.
Heavy Financial Blow
While a final tally of the damage is still pending, preliminary estimates suggest that the financial losses run into several crore rupees. Authorities have stated that a precise assessment of the monetary loss can only be conducted once the site is fully stabilized and safe for inspection.
Possible Cause and Official Response
BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa visited the affected area to assess the damage. According to the MLA, the fire likely started due to a short circuit in one particular shop, which then acted as a catalyst for the blaze to spread throughout the rest of the market.
Randhawa assured the devastated business owners that discussions regarding compensation would be initiated with the administration as soon as the situation is completely under control.
Administrative Mobilization
The response effort saw a heavy presence of top officials on the ground. The operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner, SP South, DSP, and the local SHO, who coordinated the firefighting and security efforts. They were further supported by members of civil society who assisted in the crisis management.
An official investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the fire and to verify the sequence of events that led to the catastrophe.