NEW DELHI, April 10 (Xinhua ) -- Forty-five people were killed and more than 100 wounded in a fire that broke out Monday evening at a crowded business fair held in a public park in the city of Meerut of Uttar Pradesh State of India, New Delhi TV quoted police reporting.

    TV news channels aired grim footage of bodies charred beyond recognition lying at the venue of the fair.

    Fire fighters were seen extricating bodies as well as grievously injured people trapped under the debris. Grieving people desperately searched for their kin.

    A police official in Meerut said the blaze at the Consumer Fairat Victoria Park was caused by an electrical short circuit within a tented enclosure that went up in flames within a few minutes.

    The fire broke out at about 5:30 p.m. and fire fighters battled for over two hours to bring the flames under control.

    It was the third day of the fair sponsored by LG Electronics and it had attracted a huge crowd. But no one has any idea of the number of people who were present inside the tents when the incident occurred.

    Many people got trapped and could have died of suffocation as each of the three air-conditioned tents had two narrow exits, one at either end.

    The tents were made of synthetic, inflammable material that burnt rapidly, destroying the stalls with impressive displays of electronic goods. Hundreds of people had a trying time getting out of the tents when the fire started, unable to reach the small exits.

    Chief Minister Mulayam Singh of Uttar Pradesh has announced that the kin of the dead would be paid Rs.200,000 as compensation, while Rs.100,000 would be paid to the seriously injured and Rs.50,000 to those who sustained minor wounds. Enditem