Shopkeepers seek solution of tangled wires, cite fire risk after Paltan Bazaar blaze

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun

Shopkeepers in major city markets, including Moti Bazaar and Machhi Bazaar have expressed concern on the tangle of overhead electricity wires and warned that it carries fire risk.

Raising the issue of public safety, traders urged authorities to take immediate steps to address the congestion. They said clearing and regulating the wires is crucial for protecting shops as well as the large number of customers visiting these busy market areas.

The Doon Valley Mahanagar Udyog Vyapar Mandal (DVMUVM) said they will soon meet the district magistrate to seek a permanent resolution to the problem.

It is important to mention that the concern intensified after a major fire recently gutted two garment shops in Sarnimal Market, Paltan Bazaar, causing extensive damage to stock on the upper floor.

“After the recent incident, many shopkeepers like us are worried. The wires in market areas are all tangled, which increases fire risk. Authorities should consider a solution and shift these wires underground so fire incidents and other risks will be reduced,” said a shopkeeper on condition of anonymity. 

Sumit, another trader, said, “These wires are truly a matter of concern. It is risky for shopkeepers like us and for the public who visit the market. If authorities don’t act, it will remain a risk.”

Doon Valley Mahanagar Udyog Vyapar Mandal (DVMUVM) president Pankaj Masson said markets with narrow roads face the worst wiring congestion. He added that strong winds during bad weather worsen the condition, further increasing fire risk. 

Masson said that they will soon meet the DM to push for a permanent solution. “Authorities should either convert these tangled wires into bunched cables or lay them underground,” he said. Many other shopkeepers across the markets have echoed the demand, urging the administration to act before another fire breaks out.