Six shops suffer loss in fire in Udupi

Exact cause for outbreak of fire not known yet: SP

As many as six shops were damaged due to an outbreak of fire at Gangolli village in Kundapur taluk in the early hours of Saturday.

Eight shops were located in the one-storied Jamia Complex in Gangolli. A paint shop, a cloth shop, hardware shop and a plywood shop were located on the ground floor while a gift shop, two hardware-cum-plywood shops and a tailor’s shop were on the first floor.

According to the police, the fire began in the building around 1.30 p.m. The paint shop and the cloth shop suffered major damage in the fire, while the remaining four shops had minor damages. Fire tenders rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control.

Gangolli had seen a clash between two groups of youth belonging to different communities on Thursday.

P.M. Diwakar, Kundapur Circle Inspector, told The Hindu that the cause for the outbreak of fire was not yet known.

P. Rajendra Prasad, Superintendent of Police, said that the paint shop, where the fire was noticed, had shutters locked from outside and had no ventilation.

Forensic experts from Mangalore were expected to reach Gangolli and examine the spot. “It is only after investigation by the forensic experts that the exact cause for fire can be ascertained,” he said.

Meanwhile, police security has been beefed up in Gangolli. Two units of Karnataka State Reserve Police, four units of District Armed Reserve Police and 10 police officers had been pressed into service in the village.