Udupi: Bank catches fire - alert locals avert major damage, express ire at officials

Inchara Udupi
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (VM)

Udupi, Feb 26: A fire broke out in Syndicate Bank, Palimar branch on Monday February 25 at around 8.30 pm.

As soon as the fire alarm sounded in the building, the locals rushed to the spot. Realizing that the electric meter board had caught fire, they disconnected the electricity supply, splashed water and diffused the fire, hence averting any major damage.

Later a fire brigade belonging to Lanco Company came to the spot and extinguished the fire completely.

The fire was extinguished completely from the outside but the locals were unsure whether the fire had caused damged inside the Bank. When the Bank officials were informed about the incident, they reportedly stated that they would be coming but did not turn up even after a long time, said an eyewitness.

"Even after the Bank officials were provided with facility to reside in the same building, they did not opt for it. When police officials and fire brigade can reach on time, why did the Bank officials require more than two hours to come from Udupi?" said locals and customers of that Bank who had gathered at the spot.

After two hours of the incident, deputy manager of the Bank from Mangalore arrived at the spot and investigated the loss caused due to the fire.

The Bank manager who arrived later allegedly raised his voice at a photographer who was at the spot, and said that the damage was a minor one.