Daily Wage Labourer's House Completely Gutted in Devastating Fire in Somwarpet Taluk
A sudden and accidental fire completely destroyed the house of a daily wage labourer in Kajuru village, located in Somwarpet taluk near Madikeri, in the early hours of Monday. Fortunately, an elderly woman and her young grandson managed to escape the inferno unharmed, though they lost all their possessions.
Elderly Woman and Grandson Make Narrow Escape as Fire Erupts
The incident involved Pushpa, an elderly daily wage labourer, who lived in the house with her grandson, Harshith. According to reports, Pushpa noticed the fire breaking out and immediately ran out of the building to raise an alarm. She alerted her neighbours, who swiftly came to her aid.
One of the neighbours, Vinod, who serves as the president of the Aiguru gram panchayat, played a crucial role by entering the burning house to rescue young Harshith. Despite the villagers' efforts, they were unable to control the rapidly spreading flames.
Fire Guts Entire House Within Minutes; LPG Cylinder Bursts
The fire engulfed the entire structure within just a few minutes, reducing it to ashes. During the blaze, an LPG gas cylinder burst, adding to the intensity of the fire. Miraculously, no one sustained any injuries from the explosion or the fire itself.
Upon receiving the alert, the fire brigade rushed to the spot and managed to douse the flames. Authorities have stated that a short circuit is suspected to be the cause of the fire, though a formal investigation is likely underway.
Total Loss of Belongings and Weekly Earnings
Pushpa expressed her distress, revealing that all her belongings, including her household items and personal savings, were completely destroyed in the fire. She mentioned that her money, equivalent to a week's earnings as a daily wage labourer, was also burnt, leaving her in a precarious financial situation.
Authorities and Villagers Respond; Immediate Relief Provided
The villagers have urged the government to extend immediate assistance to Pushpa and her family to help them recover from this tragedy. In response, Taluk tahsildar Krishnamurthy visited the site to inspect the damage and assess the situation.
As an initial measure of support, officials from the panchayat handed over a cheque of Rs 3,000 to Pushpa to help with her immediate needs. This gesture highlights the community's effort to provide some relief, though more substantial aid may be required for long-term recovery.
This incident underscores the vulnerabilities faced by daily wage labourers and the importance of fire safety measures in rural households. The quick response from neighbours and authorities helped prevent a human tragedy, but the material loss has left the family in dire straits.
