Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JD)
Mangaluru, Feb 1: In what could have been a major tragedy had immediate action not been taken, a huge fire engulfed a furniture industry at Konchady, located adjacent to three schools, here on Monday February 1.
The fire broke out on the first floor of the Bhagyajyothi Industries and Emerald Decor, which manufactures furniture and wood. It is located adjacent to Vidya Nursery School, Vidya Higher Primary School and Indira Gandhi Memorial School.
As soon as smoke billowing out of the building was noticed, the school managements took precautionary measures and evacuated all the children, for fear that the fire may spread to their building. The schools that adjoin the industry are located in a single building and reportedly have only one exit with a narrow passage, hence if the fire had spread before evacuation, there could have been a major tragedy, eyewitnesses said.
While it is suspected that short circuit was the cause for the fire, some workers at the spot said that sparks during welding ignited the fire.
The industry belongs to Laxman Devadiga who lives close by, and it was started about three or four months ago, sources said.
It is surmised that Rs 10 lac to Rs 15 lac worth of machinery and other items were charred in the fire.
The fire service is said to have arrived half an hour after the call was made. The fire personnel managed to douse the flames after some effort.
Speaking to daijiworld, headmistress of Vidya School said that there are 517 students studying in the school and all of them were evacuated without any delay. The children who were startled by the flames and thick smoke ran helter-skelter leaving their books, bags and even shoes all over the place.
The intensity of the heat generated by the fire was such that the glass panes on adjacent buildings also smashed and the overhead aluminium sheets shrunk in.
The students were later taken back into the schools and classes resumed.
Kavoor police rushed to the spot and registered a case.