humanitarian gesture to traders

Hyderabad: NGOs who are daily involved in serving free food to underprivileged have jumped into action following the fire accident at Nampally Industrial Exhibition. With almost all their belongings gutted those who are affected by this major fire accident are being served till they find some succour towards overcoming the scenario.Humanity First Foundation (HFF) is one such foundation which started serving the traders at the Exhibition from early hours on Thursday. Generally engaged in serving the people at the State-run hospitals like Niloufer in Nampally, Maternity Hospital in Koti and NIMS at Punjagutta, the team of youngsters have decided to also support the victims of the disaster.

“On Thursday morning we rushed to the exhibition along with food containers to help the people. About 1,000 persons were fed. We were asked to continue to the social work even on Friday and we shall be visiting exhibition along with food which could help feed 1,500,” said Mohd Sujathullah, a Pharma D student who started the NGO along with his friends.The foundation which serves ‘Upma’ at all the hospitals is providing food to all those who lost their belongings. Similarly, some other groups including religious groups started serving during the day, while some are serving lunch others are engaged in supply dinner.

On Wednesday night, following the fire accident which gutted some 250 stalls, the stall owners came forward to help their fellow businessmen. Besides volunteers, businessmen started helping each other to protect whatever remaining items. Extending the helping hand, Pista House owner

visited the spot and helped the affected by distributing free haleem for the stall owners as a dinner. Masqati Dairy also helped by serving dinner to the stall owners at late night and many social activists helped them by serving food.

Mishap could have been prevented
Following the fire accident, the stall owners started protesting and alleged that though a fire tender was present at the spot, it did not have water, and hence could help put out the fire in time. As a result, fire rapidly spread, gutting hundreds of shops. They protested, when Home Minister, Mohammed Mahmood Ali visited the spot. “The fire which gutted scores of shop could have been controlled on time, if the fire tender was ready. But unfortunately, there was not water in the vehicle,” fumed one of the traders.

Compensation promised
On Thursday, several Ministers, MLAs, social activists and the members of many different organisations visited the exhibition and interacted with the stall owners. After meeting the society members, the stall owners started protesting in front of Exhibition Society office for justice. However, the police present there pacified them and controlled the situation. Society member and a youth leader from MIM, Yasar Arafath, interacted with the owners and explained to them about the meeting with the members. He said that the society would return the rent amount of stalls. The society would also construct stalls and also extend the date of exhibition till February 28.

Stern action sought against Society
Meanwhile, MBT Spokesperson Amjedullah Khan demanded strict action against the managing committee members of Exhibition Society for not taking prior safety measures. He said just to earn more money the committee had given permission for 2500 stalls when it was permitted to allow only 1,500 stalls. He said that due to negligence of the Society, nearly 150 stalls were burnt and property worth nearly Rs 50 crores was lost. He demanded that criminal cases be booked against the committee members and that the State government should ensure that all the losses should be compensated by the society.

-Md Nizamuddin & M M Farooqui