GUNTUR: Nearly a year after the Guntur mirch yard was reduced to ashes, the Central Warehousing (CWC) godown right next to it were gutted today leaving a huge trail of losses. Smoke was seen billowing out of the E Block of the Central Warehousing Corporation godowns next to the mirch yard by a woman who promptly informed the officials.
CWC officials immediately informed the fire department and the police and Major Industries Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana who rushed to the spot.
Meanwhile, 15 fire engines were requsitioned but by the time arrived flames ungulfed the entire E Block.
Sources told Express that Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana asked for five JCB bulldozers, which teared down a portion of the wall from various places and the fire engines put out the fire.
Meanwhile, 15 water tankers were also pressed into service. The fire was totally extinguished after a fivehour battle.
Three-fourths of 3,200 cotton bales were destroyed.
CCI authorities put the loss at Rs 5 crore.
Meanwhile, 500 quintals of rice that was stored in the godown was also burnt. The loss is estimated to be Rs 50 lakh.
Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, who was present at the scene of action along with ministers Kanna Lakshminarayana and Manikya Varaprasad, alleged that the fire was not an accident but a result of a conspiracy by cotton buyers and CCI officials and demanded that a CBI inquiry be conducted into the incident.
Meanwhile, the officials and the police suspect that the fire was caused due to an electric short circuit.