AP CM rules out sabotage in market yard fire

Hyderabad, May 3 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy tonight ruled out sabotage behind the devastating fire in Asia's biggest Chilli yard, causing a loss of over Rs 85 crore.

The Chief Minister, who rushed from New Delhi after reviewing the situation with senior officials asserted that all the major market yards in the State would be modernised in a time-bound manner.

Fire stations would be set up in all major market yards and fire fighting equipment would be provided at smaller market yards in the State, he added.

Dr Reddy said the situation was under control.

As many as 19 fire tenders, including seven from neighbouring Krishna district were deployed to curb the flames. Additional fire tenders from Prakasam and East Godavari districts were also being deployed.

As many as 40 houses in a rehabilitation colony near market yard were gutted in the fire. The fire was caused when a lorry hit an electrical pole while the vehicle was reversing in the market yard, resulting in a short circuit.

Soon the shot circuit turned into major fire which engulfed 90 per cent of the market, reducing to ashes 1,06,000 bags of chillies of farmers and 95,000 bags of chillies of traders.

Insurance coverage was available for chilli stocks worth Rs 23 crore with traders, Dr Reddy said, adding that the Government was working out ways to compensate those, who did not have insurance cover.

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