GURGAON: Around 25 shops were completely gutted after a fire broke out at the woollens market at Ramlila Ground in Pataudi town on Sunday morning, a fire officer said.The blaze spread rapidly, engulfing the entire market within a short time, news agency PTI reported.After receiving information, fire tenders from Pataudi and Manesar reached the spot and began firefighting operations.Fire personnel brought the blaze under control after a strenuous effort. No injuries have been reported, the officer added.An official said a woman in the area heard a noise around 4am and discovered that the market was on fire. She alerted others, but the blaze had already spread extensively, PTI reported.The cause of the fire and the exact extent of the damage were not immediately known.Local residents said a woollens market is set up every year from November to February in the eastern part of Ramlila Maidan in Pataudi.This year, it opened on November 4 under the aegis of the Himalayan Tribal Trade Association, with stalls run by vendors from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.According to shopkeepers, each shop stocked winter clothing worth lakhs of rupees.With the winter season yet to set in fully, most of the stock remained unsold.(With agency inputs)
