Major fire in Asia’s biggest mango market

Vijaywada, May 22

ALMOST the entire mango market, Asia’s largest, was gutted in a major fire on Monday night, destroying large stocks of mangoes besides lorries, tractors, aircoolers and transformers. No casualties were, however, reported, the police said here on Tuesday. As many as 71 shops of the total 80 were gutted in the fire, a local fire officer said.

A spark from an oven where a worker was cooking his dinner is suspected to be the cause for the fire, the officer said. “Strong winds fanned the flames, as a result of which the hay used for packing the mangoes caused the fire spreading very fast.” Six fire tenders were pressed into service to put out the blaze, which broke out around 8 pm, he said adding the fire was still smouldering. (PTI)