A fire broke out at one of the pillars of the Punjagutta flyover today. Though nobody was hurt, the thick smoke from the flames made it difficult for many commuters in the area to breathe.
The incident also led to a huge traffic jam on the flyover.
Officials believe that the fire was caused when some lights, put up to decorate the ornamental plants in the vertical garden on the affected pillar, short circuited, at about 12:30 pm this afternoon.
On noticing the smoke billowing out from the plants, passersby and motorists on the road immediately informed the traffic police and the fire department. The police cordoned off the pillar, and one fire engine rushed to the spot to douse the fire with the help of the people present in the area.
This is one among a series of electrical fires that have broken out in the city, in the recent past. Just last month, a fire, also caused by an electrical short circuit, left
four textile shops in Koti market gutted. Four fire engines were used to douse the fire in a two-hour-long operation, which led to some traffic congestion in nearby areas.
A similar incident also occurred at a
TV repair shop in Kukatpally area's Ramalayam Road, in January. An electrical short circuit was what reportedly caused the mishap. While no casualties were reported, the electronic items and furniture in the shop were severely damaged.