Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (SP)

Karkala, Aug 26: Maruti Industries Traders, a cashew processing centre located at Mangalakallu, Hirgana near Kukkundoor in the taluk owned by Prakash Putran caught fire accidentally on Tuesday August 25.

The night shift workers of the factory were asleep in a room adjacent to the factory when fire was noticed. On realizing that the cashew collection centre of the factory had caught fire at around 12.45 am on Tuesday, the workers conveyed information to locals and the owner. Fire tenders from Udupi and Karkala rushed to the spot and got busy with extinguishing the fire. Three fire extinguishers were on the job and the operation continued till morning.

The factory had a huge stock of cashew nuts and the entire stock turned into ashes. Two mini trucks parked in front of the building were also consumed by flames. Loss due to the tragedy has been put at Rs 1.5 crore.

Exact cause for the fire could not be ascertained immediately although electric short circuit is suspected to be the culprit.