A major fire broke out near the Rajiv Gandhi Wholesale Vegetable Market here on Wednesday destroying about 120 huts and claiming the life of a person.
District Fire Officer D. Niranjan Reddy told The Hindu that a gas leak might have ignited the fire though it could not be ascertained immediately.
The area is inhabited by workers of the flower and vegetable market.
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Eight fire tenders reached the spot and prevented fire from spreading to adjoining localities.
It took not less than three hours for the fire brigade personnel to bring the situation under control.
According to residents of the area, two domestic LPG cylinders exploded and fire quickly engulfed the huts mainly due to the tarpaulin sheets with which the dwellings were covered.
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The loss is estimated to be in several lakhs.
The fire left the people without shelter and reduced their belongings to ashes.
Meanwhile, Ministers Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, P. Narayana, and Kollu Ravindra visited the spot and consoled the victims.
They promised to extend all possible help to the kin of the deceased and those who lost their properties.
District Collector Babu A., Mayor K. Sridhar and Vijayawada West MLA Jaleel Khan were present.
120 huts destroyed near Rajiv Gandhi wholesale vegetable market