Pranab forced to fly back after fire at KCR yagam

Hyderabad: A massive fire at Telangana Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao's Ayutha Chandi Yagam in Medak, forced President Pranab Mukherjee's chopper to fly back to Hyderabad. Witnesses of the incident said huge flames leapt through the thatched roof of the main pandal when the priests poured ghee into the main yagna gudam. As panic prevailed with thousands of people running for safety, fire engines were rushed to the spot and volunteers began to clear the area. “The yagam was almost drawing to a close when the priests offered holy material. Suddenly, the flames shot up to the roof,” said a senior Telangana minister. Watching from the air, the President's chopper hovered over the venue as smoke engulfed the skies, and flew back to Shamshabad.