Bhopal: A day after major fire broke out at a shopping complex, business fraternity of Bairgarh observed bandh on Monday. Businessmen pulled their shutters down as a mark of protest and also to express solidarity with traders who suffered huge losses in the fire that gutted over 100 shops on Sunday. The shopkeepers are still to evaluate their losses which may run into crores.
Administration on Monday sealed the entire Saint Hirdaram Commercial Complex, a hub of sarees centre, which has been destroyed in the fire. Only owners were allowed to visit their shops for physical verification. Heavy police force was deployed at the complex to execute the instructions of administration. Administration has launched the survey of the shops damaged completely in the incident. Nearly 80 per cent of the shops at the complex were gutted in fire. Around 20 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames. Businessmen blamed Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration for not being well-equipped. They alleged that BMC’s fire fighters and water tankers lacked proper nozzles. Even BMC staff could not find the entry in the complex and that delayed the rescue operation. And Army was brought in to bring situation under control, they added. Businessmen having establishments at the complex claimed that only 25 per cent shops were insured and so they incurred huge losses. Besides, people working in these shops have been rendered jobless.
Bhopal Development Authority (BDA) had developed the complex on PPP mode with RK Construction. Entire complex housed saree and fabric shops. BDA additional CEO Sandeep Karketa said, “Saint Hirdaram Commercial complex was developed on PPP mode and there were 168 shops. BDA had constructed 84 shopson ground floor, while on the first floor same number of shops were constructed by RK Construction.
SDM Pradeep Sharma said that the administration along with the owners was carrying out physical verification of the shops to ascertain the damages. “My entire team led by Naib Tahsildar is doing their job. After verification, report will be sent to higher authority for the final settlement of compensation or damages,” he added.
Bairgarh TI Sudheer Arjaria said that heavy forces have deployed at the site to avert any untoward incident. “Administration is carrying out survey of damages, we have sealed the entire commercial complex to ensure that no other person except the owners enter the complex. Only owners of the shops are allowed to come to the complex for physical verifications,” said Arjaria.
Shopkeepers who suffered losses in the fire spoke to Free Press Vijay Ahuja said, “Entire stock of sarees has been destroyed. Even the bundles, which were taken out after the fire broke out were stolen by people and loading auto rickshaw drivers. BMC men were ill-equipped. The civic body should upgrade their system to deal with emergency situation.”
Saurav Jain said, “ Shopkeepers has suffered huge losses. In fact, BMC firemen had no idea how to make an entry into the complex which was on fire. They were ill-equipped. Their tankers were not having nozzles. It was only when army personnel took over the rescue operation charge, situation came under control.”
Yash said, “Loading auto rickshaw operator disappeared with our stock worth Rs 5 lakh which we had managed to save from the fire. Rest of the sarees were destroyed. We were busy in shifting out stocks but people made away with our goods. Shopkeepers who had not disclosed their stocks had to bring their martial out in open following the incident.”
Girish said, “My Kalka Saree Centre is totally gutted. Main problem was with BMC which was not well prepared to tackle such situation. Their fire fighters were not up-to-date. They could not find the entry and because of the delay the damages swelled. When army came, they took the entire operation in their hand and things were brought under control.”
