The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : 25 shops destroyed in fire

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 20, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

25 shops destroyed in fire

By Our Staff Reporter

CUDDAPAH, AUG. 19. Twenty-five shops were reduced to ashes in the old vegetable market in Y.V. Street in Cuddapah town due to electric short circuit in the early hours of Thursday, causing extensive loss to vegetable traders.

Fire broke out at about 1 a.m. in the shops having tin roofs and the heaps of a variety of vegetables, weighing-machines, tables, chairs and the cash boxes were destroyed. The Cuddapah Fire Officer, Sivaprasad, rushed to the spot with two fire tenders but as water was exhausted, two more were requisitioned from Kamalapuram and they put out the flames by 3.30 a.m. and prevented the fire from spreading to the nearby kirana shops.

The fire also destroyed half-a-dozen wholesale shops. Vegetable merchants -- Abdul Jabbar, Mohd. Igbal, Mahabub Saheb and S. Mahabub Basha -- said they had procured vegetables in large quantities due to truckers' strike and incurred a loss of over Rs.50,000 each.

Plea for financial aid

Another merchant, Shamshuddin, lamented that his shop and those of his brother, Kamal Basha, and son, Mohd. Ghouse, were damaged and they would recoup only if the Government extended financial assistance.

The Cuddapah MRO, Venkateswarlu, visited the market and assessed the loss in consultation with the victims. The victims sought financial assistance to resume their business.

Bank loan for victims

The Collector assured them of bank loans at one per cent interest and ample time for repayment.

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