Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala

Karkala, May 31: In a tragic incident that has shocked the Kambala community, two renowned racing buffaloes, Thonse and Appu, belonging to farmer Ashok Shetty of Beladi Bava in Karkala taluk, perished in a devastating fire on Friday night.

According to initial reports, the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit that occurred late in the night. The flames quickly spread to a nearby shed that housed a stock of paddy straw. As the fire intensified, it engulfed the entire shed, leaving the buffaloes, which were tied up, unable to escape. Despite efforts to control the blaze, both Thonse and Appu were burnt alive on the spot.

These buffaloes were not only cherished in the region but had also gained fame by winning several prestigious awards in Kambala competitions held across the undivided Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts. Their tragic demise is a significant loss to the local Kambala community and has cast a pall of gloom among sport enthusiasts.

Authorities are investigating the exact cause of the fire, and local leaders have expressed deep condolences over the incident. The Kambala fraternity remembers Thonse and Appu as stars of the traditional rural sport who brought pride to the region.