Date:15/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/15/stories/2008071557210100.htm

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Fire triggers panic in Miyapur

Staff Reporter

–Photo: Nagara Gopal

The aftermath: The scene after the fire accident that destroyed some 200 huts in Miyapur on Monday.

HYDERABAD: Nearly 200 huts were destroyed in a fire at Madinaguda in Miyapur on Monday when a major fire enveloped them creating panic among the people living in them. Luckily, there was no loss of life.

Many daily wage labourers are staying in 1,000-odd huts in the area and most are working in the construction of an apartment complex in 28 acres of land.

“It was a lucky escape for many workers as they had already left their houses to attend work,” said Assistant District Fire Officer K. Krishna Kumar. Even more fortunately, firemen inspecting a nearby multi-storeyed building rushed to the spot after they heard gas cylinders exploding from the huts around 11.15 a.m.

They alerted their control room to send fire tenders. The fire was brought under control within three hours with the help of five fire tenders.

Though reasons for the fire were yet to be established, officials of the Fire and Emergency Services Department said that flames could have erupted due to an open stove in one of the huts.

“We are trying to collect more details from the workers,” said Mr. Kumar.