A day after fire, Purohit Ji Ka Katla traders count losses

Jaipur: The fire that broke out at Purohit Ji Ka Katla’s Manihari Bazaar in the Walled City Thursday has been doused, but for traders who lost their shops, the struggle has only begun. On Friday, a forensic team collected samples from the gutted shops, while police cleared the charred material to check for any remaining embers. Some traders were also seen salvaging whatever they could from the debris.

A day after fire, Purohit Ji Ka Katla counts losses

People collect some belongings, remained safe from yesterday’s fire on the second day in which more than 15 shops were burn down due to unknown reasons at City Complex in Tripolia Bazaar area in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 18 September 2026

Kamlesh Agrawal lost all four shops and a godown in the fire. “I did not have a fire safety system, and only one of my shops was insured. My godown had Diwali stock; everything was destroyed. At this point, I have little hope of getting help from either govt or the administration,” he said.

Traders whose shops escaped the fire were also seen removing their goods. Rajesh, who owns a footwear godown in Sethi Complex, said, “Our shop had a narrow escape. We had thrown the goods away in a hurry to prevent the fire from spreading. We are now emptying the godown because we are worried about the restaurant being built in the same building. Gas cylinders and other inflammable material nearby can create difficulties for our business.”Manak Chowk police station SHO Rakesh Khyalia said an FIR has been registered suo motu. “Police will investigate the allegations and issue notices to traders and the accused. We will examine the NOC, installation and functioning of the fire-fighting system, and any changes made to the layout plan,” he said.

Khyalia said the exact cause of the fire is yet to be established. “A short circuit is one possibility. Welding work was under way at the restaurant, so voltage fluctuations or pressure on the electrical line could also have caused the fire. This aspect will also be investigated,” he said.Purohit Ji Ka Katla resident Preeti said, “My house is very close to the building where the fire broke out. We only hope Jaipur Municipal Corporation fixes the arrangements here soon. There is a strange sense of fear. We survived today, but tomorrow we may not.”

Former chief minister Ashok Gehlot visited the site Friday and wrote to chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, seeking compensation for affected traders and immediate steps to strengthen fire safety arrangements.JMC commissioner Om Kasera acknowledged that most traders did not have fire safety systems. “It is true that the shopkeepers did not have fire safety systems. Most people here avoid installing them to save money. For now, our priority is to repair the faulty hydrants and their pipeline. This system was transferred to the municipal corporation from Smart City,” he said.

traders speakI had no insurance. I don’t know how I’ll recover the goods worth lakhs. It will take me at least three months to restart my business. This time Diwali will be a sad affair for me.Vikas Sharma, ShopkeeperMy only godown had Karwa Chauth and Navratri stock. Goods worth lakhs were destroyed. The shop wasn’t insured either. We urgently need financial help from govt.Purushottam Sharma, ShopkeeperWe want the municipal corporation to clear encroachments. Since yesterday, teams have only come to inspect the site. We have had no help in clearing the burnt goods. We are hiring labourers ourselves. Only Manak Chowk police have helped so far. Exposed wires are still lying around, which could cause another fire.Ravi Kumar, ShopkeeperMy shop has been here since 1974. We have complained several times to Sethi Complex owner Anand Sethi. There were two fires earlier, but nothing changed. Now another hotel is being built upstairs, and six gas cylinders were found there yesterday.Maganlal Agrawal, Shopkeeper

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