Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi
Udupi, Apr 28: The total loss caused by a massive fire that broke out on Sunday evening in a commercial building near the City Bus Stand in the city is estimated at around Rs 2.5 crore.
The blaze reportedly started due to an electrical short circuit in a plastic goods storage godown owned by Bhima, a businessman originally from Rajasthan, on Sunday evening. The fire completely gutted his plastic shop and mobile shop, both owned by him. Two to three nearby shops were also damaged, resulting in huge losses.
The firefighting operation launched by the fire and emergency services on Sunday evening continued till 7 am on Monday.
Though the fire was brought under control late at night, it flared up several times again till morning in the godown and the shops below. Fire personnel stationed at the spot immediately carried out operations to douse the flames.
The disaster reduced four shops belonging to the same owner to ashes. Deeply shocked by the incident, shop owner Bhima fell seriously ill and was admitted to hospital, where he is undergoing treatment.
It is learnt that apart from destroying the goods, the fire also caused severe damage to the building and its shutters.