India | Posted on May 03, 2008 at 02:18pm IST

Fire at Asia's largest chilli market in AP

CNN-IBN

New Delhi: Asia's largest chilli market at Guntur in Andhra Pradesh is gutted to the ground. Fire tenders struggle as 95 per cent of the market goes up in flames.

The market spread over 50 acres in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district is still fire fighting.

Though the exact reason for the blaze is not known, sources say it could have been caused due to a cigarette butt.

About two lakh red chilli stacks were piled up in the market at the time of the accident.

Electrical fire has been ruled out since there was not electricity at that time. No casualties or injuries have been reported since the market was closed at the time of the incident.

The fire is bad news for red chilly farmers since the harvest season is over.

Due to the high velocity winds, the fire also spread to cold storages in the yard and nearby houses.

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