20120409 India Fire destroys 20 shops in vegetable market
India Apr 09 2012 “Stores”
Dead : dead 0 or unknown Burnout : 1 to 29 Injured : injured 0 or unknown
Fire destroys 20 shops in vegetable market
Updated: 2012-04-09-01:20
KANPUR: A major fire broke out at Nabipur Sabzi Mandi in Akbarpur Kotwali police area in Ramabai Nagar district on Sunday. Several fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the flames. As many as 20 shops were reduced to ashes.
Senior district officials said that the situation has been brought under control. The cause of the fire was under investigation.
“The market is a major business hub for rural folks who come here from the interior parts of the district and even outside. Now, it will take some time to rebuild it,” said Nafees, who owns a vegetable shop.
The affected shop owners and locals staged a protest on the highway and demanded compensation for the affected shopkeepers.
Tehsildar KK Pandey and circle officer Subhash Shakya visited the market and assured the traders of help. Pandey asked for a list of traders who suffered losses.
Shakya said that the cause of fire is still not known. The police do not suspect foul play. “The fire may have been caused either by short circuit or a spark due to a grinding shop in the vicinity. We have no evidence to suspect foul play but investigations are on,” he said. No injuries were reported. As many as 20 shops have been gutted. Some people trapped inside the market were rescued.
Web Source: THE TIMES OF INDIA