Day after, blaze-hit count their losses, seek relief

Satinder Pal Singh
Zirakpur, December 18

A visibly perturbed Shiv Kumar (name changed), 52, wonders where his next meal will come from. A shop where he had been working as a packaging person for the past over eight years, was gutted in a fire that broke out in the sabzi mandi here last night. As many as 80 shops were destroyed, affecting over 100 families and leading to a loss of crores of rupees.

A small-time trader, Aslam Khan (48), a resident of Preet Colony, Zirakpur, burst into tears as he witnessed his three shops burn to the ground. A visibly distraught “Khan Saab”, as he popularly known, said he suffered a loss of around Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh. Sitting helpless, he said: “I had closed my three shops around 9.30 pm on Monday night and straightway headed to my residence. As soon as I entered my house, I received a call about the fire incident.”

“I have no clue how to rebuild my business and secure the future of my family,” said Khan in choked voice.

Like Khan, scores of small traders, daily wage earners and vegetable sellers, who suffered a huge loss in the fire, are now seeking government help for their livelihood.

Shyam Lal Gupta, whose ready-made garment shop was burnt, had replenished his stock a week ago for Christmas and New Year. “I have lost at least Rs 5 to Rs 6 lakh. The authorities should compensate us,” said Gupta.

Today, some shopkeepers spent the day counting their losses and clearing the rubble, while others went to the Municipal Council office, Zirakpur, to apprise the authorities of the losses suffered by them in the fire.

The shopkeepers had not insured their shops, said sources. Naib Tehsildar Paramjit Singh said a list was being prepared regarding the losses suffered by each trader and after verification, it would be sent to the government seeking compensation.