Monday, February 21 2005 20:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Agra: A major fire broke out this evening (Feb 21, 2005) in an area where the Taj Mahotsava was being held gutting a number of stalls and destroying property worth lakhs of rupees, prompting the authorities to call off the annual cultural event.

No casualties were reported in the blaze which engulfed the artisan village, the venue of the festival, barely a km away from Taj Mahal, the monument of love.

The fire was suspected to have been caused by lighting of a match stick at one of the stalls, police said.

Fanned by a strong breeze, the fire swept the entire area sparking panic as people ran helter-skelter and stall owners frantically tried to save their goods.