A significant fire erupted Thursday morning in Purohit Ji ka Katla, located near Badi Choupad in Jaipur’s Parkota Bazar, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The blaze ignited approximately 100 meters from the famous Hawa Mahal. Firefighters worked for about four hours to control the flames, which has sparked serious concerns regarding safety measures in the area.
The fire started around 7 am, and there were no casualties. During daytime hours, the market is normally packed with thousands of people and many foreign tourists; had the fire occurred then, it could have caused major loss of life.
During daytime hours, the market is normally packed with thousands of people and many foreign tourists; had the fire occurred then, it could have caused major loss of life. The biggest concern is the firefighting infrastructure. When Civil Defence and the fire brigade arrived after the alarm, they found the installed systems switched off and inoperative, which hindered and delayed firefighting operations. Police are investigating the cause of the fire; initial indications point to a short circuit in a shop. Doesn’t the corporation have any responsibility? We pay our duties and taxes – so why don’t they maintain safety?
The fire started around 7 am, and there were no casualties. About three-and-a-half years ago, the municipal corporation installed firefighting equipment at a cost of Rs 4 crore, but the systems were apparently never tested and no mock drills were conducted. “We collectively pay Rs 40 lakh to the corporation. Goods worth Rs 2.5 crore of mine have been destroyed,” he said.
A shop owner, Rajiv Kumar Jain, said he owns five shops and pays lakhs of rupees annually as trade tax. Kamal Kishore Pitalia, president of Purohit Ji ka Katla traders’ association, said they have repeatedly raised the issue with the municipal corporation but officials have not acted. “All corrupt officials must be held accountable,” he demanded.
