Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 15: Goods worth around Rs 50 lakh were destroyed after a fire broke out in a cosmetic store-cum-house at Ambedkar Nagar area on the High Court road here today.
Fortunately, no loss of life was reported in the incident.
Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred around 9:30 AM when rain had just started and a spark from a smart meter hung on an electric pole outside the house allegedly triggered the blaze.
They said the fire quickly spread inside the building that was being used as a warehouse-cum-residence for cosmetic products, and destroyed goods worth lakhs.
The owner of the store, Vishal Shivgotra, son of Banarsi Lal Shivgotra and a resident of Ambedkar Nagar, said that he and his family members were not at home when the fire broke out.
According to him, some locals spotted the fire in his store and informed the Fire and Emergency Department, following which fire tenders rushed to the spot and launched an operation to control the flames. Click here to watch video
He said after hectic efforts, the fire was brought under control in around one hour, but the cosmetic stock and several household items including refrigerator, air-conditioners, transformers, LED lights and other products worth around Rs 50 lakhs were completely gutted in the blaze.
Vishal said fearing short-circuit, he had earlier submitted an application to the Power Development Department (PDD), seeking replacement of the electric pole, but it had not been changed so far.
He requested the Jammu and Kashmir Government in general and PDD officials in particular to compensate him for his losses.
Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the matter and started further investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.
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