Hundreds of shops gutted in MP inferno; 1 dead

Gwalior, Nov 7 (UNI) As many as 618 fireworks shops, a car and more than 100 two-wheelers were gutted today in an inferno this afternoon at the Vyapar Mela Maidan (Trade Fair Ground) here, police said.

The pre-Diwali loss could run into crores of rupees. Unconfirmed sources reported one fatality and injuries to a few others. The cause of the blaze, which resulted in chaos, was not immediately clear. Fire engines of the Indian Army and municipal corporation were battling the inferno.

A mob began pelting stones after the incident and police lathicharged to bring the situation under control.

UNI