Hyderabad Numaish witnesses worst fire tragedy in history

Hyderabad: In the worst ever fire disaster in the recent history in Hyderabad, property worth crores of rupees was gutted and at least 200 stalls were destroyed last evening.

There were about 35,000 people in the Industrial Exhibition in Nampally area when the fire broke out at 8.40pm and rapidly spread.

However the police force which rushed to the place managed to control the situation and helped the fear stricken people in vacating the grounds.

“We are sad over the large scale damage and loss to the stall owners but it is a matter of relief that there was no loss of life”, said the state Home Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali who visited the scene of the fire.

Nine people including a policeman were admitted to hospital due to suffocation.

Police officials who were investigating the cause of the fire said that electric short circuit in the stall of a bank was being suspected behind the fire.

This was first time in the 79 year old history of Numaish (Exhibition). The annual event started by the Nizam government to encourage industrial development, innovation and entrepreneurship attracts hundreds of thousands of people as well as the businessmen and companies from all over the country. Every year the Exhibition starts from New Year Day and concludes by mid February.

This year 2,500 stalls were set up in the Exhibition.

Though two fire engines are permanently stationed at the Exhibition the stall owners complained that they were not fully functional to deal with an emergency. They did not have sufficient water and by the time they could do anything fire had spread to other areas.

At one stage the situation look frightening as huge flames were leaping high in the sky and column of black smoke was visible from far off.

There was a massive traffic jam on the busy Nampally road and to clear the crowd Exhibition visitors Hyderabad Metro authorities made the travel by the trains free so that the people could leave the area immediately.

Meanwhile the Exhibition Society which organises the event has come under fire for not taking all the necessary precautions and causing a potentially disastrous situation. MIM floor leader in the state assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi alleged that the society had allowed setting up of more stalls than the capacity.

“The issue is very serious. If there was a stampede many would have lost their lives. There were women and children in large numbers. I will raise the issue in the next session of assembly”, he said.