Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Oct 14: A short-circuit caused fire gutting down two shops near Maravanthe temple causing a large scale loss and destruction, here on Monday evening, October 13.

The shops beside Maravanthe highway near Subrahmanya temple had caught fire on Monday night. It has gutted down a grocery shop belonging to Mahalinga Devadiga and a tailoring shop belonging to Nagappaya Achar.

The grocery shop suffered severe loss in the fire. Besides grocery, fridge, wooden-shelf and show case were completely gutted. The cement sheet on the roof has cracked. The wall also is cracked and the cement plastering has come out. Devadiga informed that Rs 30 thousands and several documents have been burnt to ashes in the shop.

The fire also affected the neighbouring tailoring shop. Tailoring machine, its motor, over-lock machine, iron box, wooden rack, table, chair and the clothes given by customers to stitch were destroyed in the fire. Achar, the owner said that he has incurred a loss of Rs 80 thousands.

It is said that a short circuit in the grocery shop caused the fire. The people in the neighbourhood who got up after hearing the explosion the cement sheets at night, woke up the grocery shop owner nearby. Before the locals gathered and extinguished the fire, most of the things were gutted.

It is not possible to use the shops now. In a sad note, the livelihood of the poor shop owners have been snatched away from them.