Sankranti Shopping Trip Ends in Tragedy as Fire Ravages Tribal Hamlet
A devastating fire swept through the tribal hamlet of Sarlanka in Kakinada district on Monday evening, reducing most homes to ashes while residents were away shopping for the Sankranti festival. The blaze erupted suddenly around 6:30 PM and consumed the entire settlement within minutes, leaving behind a scene resembling a war zone.
Remote Location Hinders Firefighting Efforts
Fire tenders faced significant challenges reaching the remote village, which sits in hilly terrain bordering Visakhapatnam and Anakapalle districts. It took nearly two hours for emergency services to arrive at the difficult-to-access location. Despite the extensive property damage, officials confirmed there were no human casualties or injuries, and no livestock perished in the incident.
District Fire Officer PVS Rajesh identified the cause as an electrical short circuit, with flames spreading rapidly due to a gas leak in one of the houses. Firefighters battled the blaze through the night, finally extinguishing it in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
Community Returns to Ashes
Sarlanka village, nestled in the Eastern Ghats of Kakinada district, houses approximately 150 people across 46 families, predominantly tribal communities. While some villagers had traveled to Tuni and Rowthulapudi for Sankranti shopping, others had gone to collect forest produce—their primary source of livelihood.
When residents returned in the evening, they discovered their thatched homes completely destroyed. Only three houses escaped the flames, standing as lonely survivors amidst the widespread devastation. Unlike many tribal areas that have developed modern housing, Sarlanka's residents continue living in traditional thatched structures.
Immediate Relief and Rehabilitation Efforts
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed authorities to implement rehabilitation measures for affected families, including temporary shelter and food provisions. Peddapuram Revenue Divisional Officer Katreddi Sri Ramani reported that 33 families lost all their belongings in the fire.
"The affected people were initially shifted to a nearby government hostel, but they refused to stay there," explained Sri Ramani. "We have now arranged temporary tents at their hamlet and are working to construct a proper shed to accommodate them."
Officials have distributed immediate relief packages to each affected family, consisting of Rs 25,000 in cash and 25 kilograms of rice. The community now faces the daunting task of rebuilding their lives and homes following this unexpected tragedy during what should have been a festive period.
