Hyderabad: Fire breaks out at Exhibition Ground in Nampally. https://t.co/0OSj8w1tOP — TOI Hyderabad (@TOIHyderabad) 1548863415000

Mayor Rammohan at the spot.

HYDERABAD: A massive fire broke out at the Numaish fair at the exhibition ground in Nampally on Wednesday evening, gutting more than 100 shops and causing a near-stampede.Authorities said a short-circuit at a ATM triggered the fire at 8.35 pm, which quickly spread to other shops, which were set up very close to each other.“All I can see is smoke and fire all around me. First, we thought it was a just a small fire as there were only sparks, but within minutes, it spread across to other shops,” said Ashish K, a witness.At least four people were admitted to local hospitals after they complained of suffocation.Soon after the fire was noticed, five fire tenders, which were inside the Nampally grounds, were pressed into service.But the fire fighters realised that it was a tough battle at hand and sent an SOS to the fire headquarters.Authorities said every shop was supposed to keep a fire extinguisher, sand bags and other fire safety equipment handy but 90 per cent shops do not have any fire safety equipment, said an All India Industrial Exhibition Society member.This year, about 2,500 shops put up stall at the sprawling exhibition grounds, where apparels, jewellery shops, crockery and kitchen items along with food courts have been set up. Many shops were also set up by the state, central and many corporate and multinational companies.“Luckily for us no one was hurt in the incident. Visitors panicked as the fire spread. Since it was a weekday, the rush was less and we could get the crowd to leave the venue safely,” said Ranga Reddy, secretary, All India Industrial Exhibition Society.“We recently widened the roads leading to the shops, so the fire tenders got smooth entry,” he added.The annual exhibition which began on January 1 will end on February 15.