Kundapur Fire Brought Under Control After 29 Hours; Shops Suffer Losses of Nearly Rs 3 Crore
Major blaze near Venkataramana Temple damages multiple shops; illegal firecracker storage under investigation.
A massive fire that broke out on Monday morning near the Venkataramana Temple in Kundapur caused extensive damage to several shops, resulting in losses estimated at nearly Rs 3 crore, according to police and shop owners.
The fire brigade managed to bring the blaze under control only on Tuesday after a continuous 29-hour operation. Firefighters worked tirelessly to stop the fire from spreading further in the crowded market area.
Ganesh Nayak, the owner of Balaji Provision Store, filed a complaint detailing the damage. He stated that the fire caused losses amounting to around Rs 2.96 crore to multiple establishments, including Balaji Provision Store, Damodar Provision Store, Janardhana Bhat & Sons, and Madhura Electronics.
During the investigation, officials discovered a large quantity of firecrackers stored at Janardhana Bhat & Sons, which also operates as a bookshop. According to a press release from the Superintendent of Police, firecrackers worth Rs 3,08,252 were found to be stored illegally on the premises.
Although Ganesh Bhat, the licence holder, had earlier renewed his fireworks licence until 2029, authorities clarified that the licence was cancelled by the district administration on December 16. Police have registered a case related to the illegal possession and storage of firecrackers.
Officials said the timely and determined response of the fire brigade prevented the fire from spreading to nearby shops, which could have led to even greater damage.
