Fire at Budaun exhibition: 8 gas cylinders explode, 24 shops gutted, 3 hurt
Meerut: A fire broke out at a fair in Budaun's Gandhi Ground on Monday morning, triggering eight gas cylinder explosions, gutting at least 24 shops, and leaving three people injured.
According to fire officials, the blaze began around 8 am, allegedly after a shopkeeper lit a stove to prepare tea. Ram Raj Yadav, Chief Fire Officer, Budaun, told TOI, "The fire was brought under control within an hour. We are investigating the cause. Some shopkeepers mentioned a stove might have sparked the fire. No complaint has been filed yet, and there are no fatalities."
The exhibition, organised by the Budaun Municipal Administration, had over 100 stalls. Witnesses said the fire spread rapidly. Mohd Imran, a shopkeeper from Aligarh, said, "I was in my shop when the fire started. Within five minutes, there was a loud explosion, and the blaze intensified. My footwear shop, tent worth Rs1.5 lakh, and goods worth Rs 4.5 lakh were destroyed. Even the cash burned. I am ruined."
The district administration has launched an investigation into the incident to prevent future mishaps.
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