Daijiworld Media Network - Beltangady

Beltangady, Apr 6: In a tragic incident, a teenage girl died in a fire that engulfed her house at Venur here on Monday April 6.

The deceased has been identified as Bhagyashree (18), daughter of Hosamane Ramanna Poojary and Shahikala, residents of Kukrabettu under Marodi gram panchayat limits.

She was a first year degree at Alva's College Moodbidri.

The incident took place when her father Ramanna Poojary was away on coolie work as usual while mother Shashikala was at the local primary school where she cooks mid-day meals.
Bhagyashree's brother who finished his second PUC is working in a bakery in Mangaluru during vacation and was at work at the time of the incident.

Usually, Bhagyashree stayed at her aunt's place at Hosmar from where she would travel to Moodbidri to attend college, and come home once in a while during holidays. She came home some days back during revision holidays as exams are coming up.

On Monday, Bhagyashree's relative Sunil, who is also a neighbour, noticed flames on the top floor of the house and rushed to the spot but found the house locked from the inside. He immediately went to the local primary school to bring Shashikala and got the house opened. It was then that the tragedy came to light.

The reason for the sudden fire is not yet known. Though there was a gas cylinder in the kitchen, there was nothing to suggest that it caused the fire. A pressure cooker was found strewn in the kitchen and a container with kerosene was also found. Bhagyashree's charred body was also found at the same spot.

Beltangady circle inspector Sheenappa Gowda along with other police personnel and Moodbidri fire service personnel arrived at the spot.

As the news spread, elected representatives, local leaders and public gathered at the house in bijg numbers. A holiday was declared at Kukrabettu higher primary school.

Bhagyashree was a brilliant student who had secured the first rank in Beltangady taluk in SSLC and distinction in second PUC. She completed her SSLC from a private school in Naravi and PUC at Ujire SDM College. The locals said that she was not only a meritorious student but also good-natured.