VISAKHAPATNAM: As many as 30 huts were reduced to ashes in a raging fire that engulfed a colony in Yatapalem area of Gajuwaka in the city in the wee hours of Wednesday. Another 30 huts were partially damaged but none of the inmates sustained grievous injuries.
Most of the residents in the colony situated at Yatapalem are daily wage workers. The families were fast asleep when the fire broke out at around 1.30 am, which engulfed the colony, comprising 60 makeshift huts within no time. The police suspect that an oil lamp might have triggered the fire. “Within a few minutes, the fire engulfed around 10 houses and by the time the fire engines reached the spot all the 30 houses were reduced to ashes,” said Apparao, a resident.
Three fire tenders arrived at the spot within a few minutes but it took about five hours to douse the raging fire. Additional district fire officer Ch Krupavaram initially estimated that the property damage to be about Rs 30 lakh. Officials from the Revenue department visited the spot and conducted a preliminary assessment of the loss of property.