Bulandshahar (U. P), Oct. 16 : In a tragic mishap ahead of Diwali festival, two people were feared dead and about a dozen injured when nearly 50 fireworks shops caught fire in Bulandshahar city of Uttar Pradesh.

The fire spread from one shop at a fireworks market set up for festival of lights, Diwali, in Shikarpur town of Bulandshahar city.

Burning of a firecracker around 10.30 a. m. sparked the fire and soon it engulfed about 50 shops.

As per local residents, the fire would have caused a loss of about three million rupees.

Meanwhile, the fire triggered panic among the local residents, as they started running helter-skelter to save themselves.

Police reached the spot after two hours along with firetenders, as per locals. Anguished locals pelted stones on policemen and rampaged on the roads raising slogans against the administration.

Locals were also anguished that no fire safety measures were provided by the administration in the firecrackers market.

Firecrackers have traditionally been an important part of "Diwali" festival to be celebrated on Saturday (October 17). (ANI)