Woman burnt alive as fire razes flower market

An elderly woman, Ramadevi, was burnt alive in the fire that gutted the flower market in Vijayawada on Wednesday. In all, 150 huts in the area are said to have been gutted in the fire. The fire fighters were fighting the fire in two fire tenders. The revenue officials have reached the spot with relief material. As the fire razed, the victims wailing rent the air. Women and children were there in the hosues at that time. The elderly woman could not escape the fire. Thatched houses are the abodes of the poor in coastal districts. Fires are common in the area during the summer. Most of the fires are attributed to land sharks waiting to drive out people.