Fire breaks out in Hyderabad's Exhibition (Lead)

Hyderabad, Jan 31 (IANS) A major fire broke out in All India Industrial Exhibition here Wednesday night, reducing over 100 stalls to ashes. There was no loss of life, official said.An unspecified number of people were injured in the stampede after the fire broke out after 9 p.m. from a stall, reportedly due to a short-circuit.Hyderabad Mayor B. Rammohan said 12 fire tenders brought the fire under control.Thousands of people including women and children, who were present in the sprawling Exhibition Ground in Nampally in the heart of the city, ran out in panic. Several families were separated due to stampede like situation.Police diverted vehicular traffic in the busy area. Hyderabad Metro announced free travel for people from the nearby station.Home Minister Mahmood Ali visited the accident site and reviewed the situation with officials.Traders alleged that the authorities failed to act quickly resulted in huge losses to them. A trader said he lost goods worth Rs.6 lakh. He said only one fire engine was stationed at the venue and it proved inadequate to douse the fire immediately.The 78th All India Industrial Exhibition was inaugurated on January 1 and had over 2,500 stalls. Popular as aNumaish' the annual event started in 1938 during the Nizam era to promote locally made goods.Traders from various states set up their stalls in the annual exhibition, which continues for 45 days. Thousands of people throng the sprawling Exhibition Ground in the heart of the city every evening for shopping and amusement rides. Considered as mother of all carnivals, 'Numaish' is an integral part of Hyderabad's rich culture.
--IANS ms/prs