Close on the heels of a fire accident at Fishing Harbour on Saturday, about 20 shops (store rooms) were gutted at Jalaripeta area opposite Fishing Harbour on Sunday afternoon. Fortunately, there was no casualty or injuries.
Fire broke out around 2.30 p.m. and the shops that were made of wood were gutted in about two hours. Two fire engines from Visakhapatnam Port and two from the Fire Services Department rushed to the spot.
According to District Fire Officer B.V.S. Ram Prakash, the cause for fire is yet to be ascertained. “The shops are utilised by fishermen to store their equipment, nylon nets and oil. Since most of the material such as oil and nylon nets are highly inflammable and the shops are made of wood, fire spread fast,” said the DFO.
Sources in the Fire Department said that a cigarette butt might cause the fire.
Visakha (South) MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar visited the spot and assured fishermen of extending all possible help.
