Telangana: UoH reports second fire mishap in one week

HYDERABAD: Fire broke at the University of Hyderabad (UoH) on Wednesday night leaving several wild animals dead within the campus. Students said that it was the biggest fire accident reported within the campus this summer.
This was the second fire mishap reported within the campus in the last one week. Even in February, a similar fire mishap was recorded wherein close to 100 acres of forest land, mostly consisting of dry grass, was gutted.
According to students, the fire broke around 10pm at three locations – behind School of Life Sciences, near Nallagandla lake area and behind the non-teaching staff quarters.
“Some residents of nearby apartments living around the university noticed the fire and shared the pictures with us and alerted the university security officials. It was a huge fire mishap compared to last few incidents that have occurred within the campus,” said Ravi Jillapalli, research scholar and wild-life activist at UoH.
It took almost one and a half hour for the university authorities along with student volunteers to douse the fire. “The fire was doused around 11.30 pm. We are uncertain of the reason behind the mishap. It was mostly dry grass that started burning near Nallagandla lake and spread to other areas,” said Jalandhar Reddy, security officer at UoH.
The fire mishap killed several snakes among other wild animals within the campus. Students suspect that cowherds who enter the campus from outside may have caused the fire. “The cowherds who enter the campus to graze animals start a bonfire which then spreads throughout. In the last few incidents,” said Jillapalli.
In view of rising recurring fire mishaps within the campus, students have demanded the university to have its own a fire extinguishing vehicle.