Bangalore: More than 170 shops at the
85-year-old Heritage Russel Market here, selling goods ranging
from fish to flowers, were reduced to ashes following a major
fire that broke out early on Saturday, police said.
There were no casualties, they said, adding they suspected
electrical short circuit to be behind the fire.
The fire broke out at around 4.10 am in Russel Market in
Shivajinagar police station limits, they said. Built during
British rule in 1927, the market housed shops that sold goods
such as fruits, mutton, fish, vegetable and flowers.
Around 20 firefighters fought for over five hours to douse
the fire, police said.
Bruhut Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner
Shankaralinge Gowda, who visited the spot, said officials were
estimating the damage and suitable compensation would be
announced in the event of vendors losing their shops in the
inferno.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President
Dr G Parameshwar, who visited the spot along with area
legislator Roshan Baig, demanded payment of compensation to
the affected immediately.
Parameshwar said the BJP-ruled BBMP had failed to steps to
maintain and repair the heritage market. "If BBMP had taken
appropriate steps to maintain and repair the building, the
mishap would have been avoided," he said.
PTI
