India: Garment shops destroyed in huge old Hyderabad fire in Telangana

Hyderabad: Several garment shops were gutted in a huge fire that broke out in a shopping complex in old city of Hyderabad on Monday morning. No casualties were reported.

According to the police, the fire broke in a garment shop on the third floor of a building and spread to the second and fourth floors. More than 40 garment shops were reduced to ashes in the blaze.

A fire services official said they received a call around 2.15am and they immediately rushed to the scene.

At least eight fire engines were pressed into service for the fire-fighting operation which continued for more than seven hours.

The fire broke out in a cloth shop in Madina & Abbas Towers Wholesale Market in Dewan Devdi, a commercial hub near the Madina Building, and spread to adjoining shops.

Smoke engulfed the entire area, spreading panic. The officer said as the shops were closed, the firefighting personnel had a tough time in dousing the flames. They had to break open the shutters to control the fire.

Huge stocks of garments, polyester material and hosiery items led to the rapid spread of fire, making the task of firefighters difficult.

The fire services officials suspect a short circuit led to the huge fire. Police registered a case and took up further investigation.