A massive fire broke out on a pillar on Hyderabad's Punjagutta flyover in the heart of the city on Friday. Visuals from the spot showed a huge plume of smoke billowing from one of the pillars holding up the flyover. According to reports, the fire broke out due to a short circuit in some lights placed near the ornamental plants that are usually added to the pillars of flyovers as decorations.

A video taken from a Reliance Jewels store, located just metres away from where the fire broke out, shows flames engulfing one of the pillars of the Punjagutta flyover. After smoke was spotted by employees of the store located near the flyover, the traffic police cordoned off the area. Firefighters reached the spot and the fire was doused in 15 minutes, officials say.

Fire at Punjagutta flyover. Police say that a board made out of plastic of Paris caught on fire. The fire was doused within 15 mins. Partially traffic was affected. pic.twitter.com/oPYDACW9Ep

— Bala (@Bala__G) March 12, 2021

Speaking to TNM, an official from the fire control room said, “We have received a call at 12:12 pm and soon a fire engine sent to douse the fire by 12:30 pm. However, by then, some local residents had controlled the fire by throwing water. The fire was caused due to a short circuit as there was some lighting present near the ornamental plants on the flyover pillar. There are no injuries, now the situation is under control." 

The Chief Minister’s office, Pragathi Bhavan, is located around half a kilometre away from the spot where the fire broke out. Punjagutta flyover is an arterial road used by several thousands of commuters every day. Several major shopping outlets are located around the area, like Central Mall and Reliance Jewels.

The flyover was inaugurated in 2008 and in 2007, when it was still being constructed, a portion of the flyover had also collapsed.

This is a developing story