Sheds collapse at new Koheda fruit market, several vendors injured

Hyderabad: Several fruits vendors were injured as the temporary sheds at the recently relocated fruit market at Koheda collapsed on Monday. A few more vendors and workers at the market are feared trapped under the collapsed sheets, which came down crumbling due to the sudden showers accompanied by winds.

The incident occurred less than a week after the state agricultural minister S. Niranjan Reddy inspected the arrangements at the place. Rachakonda police rushed to the spot and started rescue operation. They said the injured people have been rescued and shifted to hospitals and that they were also looking if anybody is still struck under the mangles.

The city’s larget fruit market at Gaddi annaram was vacated and shifted to Koheda. The proposal which has been pending for more than a decade turned into a reality now. The decision to shift the market was taken to ease the traffic congestion at Gaddi annaram as it is located on the very busy Dilsukhnagar-LB nagar stretch in the heart of the city.

The new fruit market is set up in a sprawling 30-acre area at Koheda on the city suburbs very near to the Outer Ring Road (ORR). This will become one of the country’s largest fruit markets, once fully operational. The construction of 30,000 sq ft and 80,000 sq ft shed has already been completed, while works related to 40,000 sq ft shed are under progress.

The location was chosen as it is just 1.5 km away from the ORR and it would be easy for the farmers to reach the premises without entering the city.