Chilli yard still under fire, Rs 85 crore loss estimated

Hyderabad, May 3 (UNI) The fire fighters were continuing their struggle to douse the flames emanating from the Asia's biggest Chilli market yard which cought fire this morning, even as the Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy claimed that the total loss was over Rs 85 crore.

Police said, ''the fire fighters would struggle through out the night to control the spread of the fire. The whole fire would be contained by tomorrow morning''.

Meanwhile, Dr Reddy, ruling out sabotage behind the devastating fire in Asia's biggest Chilli yard, 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.

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 electric short circuit.

Soon the fire emarating from short circuit 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 wortgh 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.

UNI AP/SM GT KP2238