Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, May 19: After an accidental fire broke out at a godown located adjacent to the house of a local resident named Joseph D'Souza at Enmadi in Ilantila village near Ilantila on the evening of Monday May 18, the godown was completely burnt down, while the house suffered partial damages.

In addition to the godown building, stock of arecanut, coconut and other agricultural produce stored inside the godown also were reduced to ashes, inflicting a loss of several lacs of rupees on D'Souza.

As soon as the flames were seen originating from the godown, an alarm was raised and neighbourers started to pour water on the fire. However, because of the dry coconut fronds and other materials stored therein, the flames spread fast to the house. The efforts of the people to douse the fire failed and the fire covered the entire house. The Puttur fire brigade rushed to the spot at around nightfall and extinguished the flames.

The cause of the fire has not yet been established. It is thought that either a electric short circuit or a spark from the hearth in the bath room would have caused the fire.