158 cracker stalls gutted in fire in Haryana

Sirsa, Nov 8 (UNI) As many as 158 stalls selling crackers were gutted and several vehicles damaged in a fire at the National Government college grounds here today.

According to initial estimates, crackers worth Rs 1.25 crore to Rs 1.50 crore were destroyed in the fire while scores of vehicles parked in the makeshift market were damaged.

Police said the fire broke out in one of the stalls at about 1330 hrs and the flames engulfed all the stalls set up in the college campus on the occasion of Diwali.

Firetenders reached the spot and managed to control the raging flames.

All the 158 stalls in the market were reduced to ashes while several vehicles, including half a dozen cars and dozens of two-wheelers parked in the market, were completely damaged in the fire.

However, there was no loss of life as most of the stall owners and the customers rushed to safety as the makeshift market was set up in an open area. Only a couple of people received minor injuries in the incident.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Deputy Commisioner V Umashankar and Superintendent of Police (SP) Vikas Arora visited the spot and announced that compensation would be given to stall owners after making proper assessment of the loss.

UNI