A significant fire erupted in a commercial building complex located near the historic Venkataramana temple in Kundapur, Udupi district, causing substantial damage to multiple businesses. The blaze, which broke out due to an electrical fault, resulted in three shops being completely gutted and two others suffering partial damage.
Origin and Rapid Spread of the Blaze
According to Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar, the fire originated from a short circuit at a shop selling puja items. The flames quickly spread to adjacent establishments, engulfing the area in a matter of minutes. The affected businesses included an electronics shop, a provision store, a hardware store, and a bookshop. Alarmingly, the bookshop also contained a godown storing firecrackers, which intensified the fire's spread and severity.
Emergency Response and Damage Control
Firefighting units from both Kundapur and Byndoor rushed to the scene and engaged in a strenuous operation to contain the raging fire. Their prompt and coordinated efforts eventually brought the situation under control. Fortunately, no casualties or injuries were reported in the incident, which could have had far more tragic consequences. Authorities are currently in the process of assessing the total financial losses incurred by the shop owners.
Illegal Storage Leads to Legal Action
In a crucial development, SP Shankar revealed that the licence of the firecracker shop had been cancelled as recently as December 16. Despite this cancellation, a stockpile of firecrackers was still being stored illegally on the premises. As a result, the police have decided to book a case against the firecracker shop owner for the unlawful storage of hazardous materials, which contributed to the scale of the disaster.
This incident in Kundapur serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by electrical faults and the critical importance of adhering to safety regulations, especially concerning the storage of flammable goods like firecrackers. The community's relief at the absence of human loss is tempered by the significant economic damage and the clear violation of safety norms that exacerbated the event.
