Jaipur, Sep 18 (IANS): Former Rajasthan Chief Minister, Ashok Gehlot, on Friday visited Purohit Ji Ka Katla in Jaipur to take stock of the damage caused by the massive fire that broke out there on Thursday and met with the traders affected by the incident.
Gehlot expressed concern over the losses suffered by the traders and said that those whose shops and businesses were damaged in the fire must be provided appropriate compensation without delay.
He also questioned the state government’s response to the incident, pointing out that, according to the affected traders, no representative of the state government had visited the site or met them even after the fire.
Gehlot said the government should demonstrate sensitivity towards the traders who have suffered substantial losses and immediately send its representatives to meet the affected families and business owners.
He stressed that the government must assess the losses and ensure that adequate compensation is provided to all those affected. Gehlot said that traders facing the aftermath of such a devastating incident need support and reassurance from the government, and called for prompt action to address their grievances.
Speaking to the media, the former Rajasthan Chief Minister said that after receiving information about the fire, NDRF and fire brigade teams reached the spot promptly and immediately began rescue and firefighting operations.
Appreciating the efforts of the emergency response teams, Gehlot noted that while there was fortunately no loss of life, and the incident could have caused far greater damage had the fire spread further.
Gehlot demanded that the state government conduct an inspection of buildings that have been issued Fire NOCs and ensure that all necessary fire-safety measures are in place. He emphasised that corrective steps must be taken to prevent similar incidents in the future. In a social media post, Gehlot said that he had visited the site of the fire at Purohit Ji Ka Katla in Jaipur to assess the damage and meet the affected traders.
According to Gehlot, the distressed traders told him that no representative of the state government had visited them following the incident. He appealed to the government to meet the affected traders, understand their grievances and ensure that appropriate compensation is provided to all those who have suffered losses.
A major fire broke out on Thursday morning at Purohit Ji Ka Katla in Jaipur, engulfing several shops and warehouses.
The blaze spread rapidly, aided by the presence of cloth, plastic and other combustible goods stored at the premises.
Firefighting teams faced considerable difficulties in controlling the blaze because of the area’s narrow lanes, but managed to bring the fire under control after several hours of operations.
A short circuit is suspected to have caused the fire, although an investigation into the exact cause is underway. Fortunately, no loss of life was reported in the incident.
