As many as 150 firecracker shops and more than 185 vehicles, including at least 35 cars, were gutted, when a major fire broke out at the Zilla Parishad ground at Aurangabad in Marathwada region on Saturday. Fortunately, no one suffered any injury nor was there any causality in the mishap.

The fire was noticed at two of make-shift shops set up at the Zilla Parishad grounds located in the heart of Aurangabad city at 11.13 am, when nearly 1,000 people were to purchase fire crackers.

Soon after the fire was notice, people and shopkeepers ran out of the grounds in panic, leaving scores of their vehicles that they had parked there.

Before long, the fire spread to the entire grounds, where the fire crackers are set up every year during the Diwali festival.

Though the fire brigade personnel rushed to the scene and brought the raging blaze under control within ninety minutes after the break-out of fire, all the 150 shops had been reduced to ashes by then. Also gutted in the fire were at least 185 vehicles — comprising an approximate 150 two-wheelers and at least 35 cars parked in one portion of grounds. The vehicles were owned by people who had come to purchase fire crackers, shopkeepers and their employees. 

Eye witnesses said that following an electric short-circuit, fire broke out shop numbers 49 and 50 at the ZP grounds.

 “Apart from 150 shops, as many 150 two-wheelers and at least 35 cars were gutted in the mishap. The eye witnesses suspect that an electric short-circuit might have caused the fire. We are investigating the matter, “ a senior officer stationed at the Aurangabad city police control room said.

The police and fire brigade personnel said that they were assessing the quantum of losses caused by the fire, to the shopkeepers and the visitors to the grounds.