States » NorthPosted at: Sep 17 2026 2:59PM


Rajasthan: Over 20 shops gutted in massive fire at Jaipur's Katla market

Jaipur, Sep 17 (UNI) More than 20 shops were reduced to ashes after a massive fire broke out at Purohitji Ka Katla market in Jaipur's historic Walled City area on Thursday morning, destroying goods worth crores of rupees, officials and traders said.
According to traders and police sources, the fire broke out around 0730 hours in a cluster of shops dealing in lac (resin) bangles and other items.
A security guard at the Sethi Complex said the blaze was suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit in one of the shops before spreading rapidly to adjoining establishments.
The market houses wholesale and retail shops dealing in lac items, plasticware, clothing, fabrics and other highly combustible materials. The narrow lanes and congested surroundings made it difficult for fire tenders to reach the affected area.
Around 15 fire tenders were rushed to the site and tried to control the blaze for more than five hours. The fire could not be completely brought under control until around 1300 hours, sources said.
The firefighting operation was further hampered by the densely populated location, narrow access roads and an allegedly non-functional fire-extinguishing system at the complex.
Sources said the Purohitji Ka Katla market, one of the busiest and most congested markets in the Walled City, has more than 535 shops and witnesses heavy footfall throughout the day. They alleged that adequate fire-safety arrangements were lacking in the market.
District authorities and Jaipur Lok Sabha member Manju Sharma also reached the spot and reviewed the firefighting operation.
Sharma described the incident as unfortunate and said traders had suffered losses running into crores of rupees, while expressing relief that there had been no loss of life.
“This is sad happening that rendered loss of crores of rupees to traders-shopkeepers, however, what provides sigh of relief is the fact that there is no loss of life,” she said.The MP also questioned the alleged lapses in monitoring fire-safety arrangements in congested markets and shopping complexes.
She questioned why the authorities had failed to detect the allegedly defunct fire-extinguishing system at the complex and said an inquiry would be conducted into the incident.
“Appropriate probe-inquiry will be held in this matter and the negligent or guilty officials will not be spared,” Sharma said.
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Tags: #Rajasthan: Over 20 shops gutted in massive fire at Jaipur's Katla market
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