Meerut: At least 50 persons, mostly women and children, died and more than 100 were injured in a fire, which tore through a consumer goods fair at the Victoria Park here on Monday evening.

The fire, suspected to have been caused by short-circuiting, broke out in one of the stalls around 5.30 p.m. when there were an estimated 2,000 visitors at the `Brand India' fair, where multinationals displayed electronic goods and kitchen appliances.

The blaze also led to the explosion of cooking gas cylinders at some makeshift eateries at the site. It soon engulfed the area, turning the Victoria Park into an inferno.

Bodies charred beyond recognition lay scattered as firefighters, with the help of locals and the police, battled the leaping flames for 90 minutes. Twentyfive fire tenders, including some from nearby districts, were pressed into service.

Blackened steel frames were all that remained of the tents set up at the fair, which began three days ago and was to end on Monday.

Relatives and friends were desperately searching for their near and dear ones at the site of the tragedy and in hospitals.

Senior Superintendent of Police Rajeev Sabarwal said that of the 115 persons who suffered burns, 55 were undergoing treatment in hospitals while the others were discharged after first aid.

One of the stall owners said he saw sparks in a stall and as these turned into a major fire, people ran helter-skelter.

The fire and the explosion of cylinders set off panic and a near-stampede situation in the Victoria Park.

The Uttar Pradesh Governement ordered a high-level inquiry and announced an ex gratia of Rs. 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased, Rs. 50,000 each to the seriously injured and Rs. 25,000 each to those with minor injuries, official sources in Lucknow said. — PTI

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