20160713 India Huge fire destroys New Astoria hotel in Hyderabad
India Jul 13 2016 “Other bldg.”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Huge fire destroys New Astoria hotel in Hyderabad
Updated: 2016-07-13-15:55
A massive fire broke out at Hotel New Astoria near RTC crossroads, destroying the famous restaurant which was a favourite haunt among denizens in the city.
M Srinivas Reddy, district fire officer, said two fire-tenders rushed to the spot, from Musheerabad and Secretariat, but failed to save the building from the raging fire that could have been triggered by a short circuit. “While the fire erupted in the first-floor, there were a few embers which went all the way to the third-floor,” he said. He also pointed out that the fire department was informed half-an-hour after the mishap.
Incidentally, the complex which housed the restaurant, also accommodated a boy’s hostel, whose inmates were immediately evacuated by the fire department.
“At around 4 am, with smoke billowing out we rushed to see what had happened, we were told to evacuate the building immediately. When we rushed outside we saw that the flames had engulfed the entire restaurant,” said a worried Md Issaque, an inmate of the hostel.
He also said that the sirens raised by the fire-tenders, served as an alarm for many inmates, which then helped them escape.
In an inspection of the building on Tuesday afternoon, it was noticed that there were certain portions of the third floor – which houses a Margadarsi Chit Funds office – engulfed by the flames, however no damage was reported from the office.
The two-decade-old eatery, which eventually became one of the city’s favourite late-night biryani spot, was frequented by people young and old, from all walks of life. “I have been a regular at this restaurant for the last five years. The food here was delectable, and friendly on the pocket,” said P Alok Reddy, a resident of the area, who was a regular to the restaurant.
Web Source : THE TIMES OF INDIA
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Huge-fire-destroys-New-Astoria-hotel-in-Hyderabad/articleshow/53184121.cms