Fire breaks out in Karnataka's Shivamogga, five thatched huts gutted into blaze

At least five thatched huts were gutted in a massive fire that broke out at Mattodi village in Karnataka’s Shivamogga district on Saturday evening. However, no casualty has been reported in the incident so far.

"Shivamogga: Five thatched huts gutted into a fire in Mattodi village. More details awaited," the news agency ANI reported.

The Shivamogga fire incident comes a day after a fire broke out on a marine research vessel off Karnataka's New Mangalore coast on Friday, following which 30 crew members and 16 scientists were rescued by the coast guard.

The fire broke out in the accommodation area of the vessel and the crew were not able to control its spread. The Coast Guard pressed into service ICGS Vikram and ICGS Sujay to render necessary assistance. The vessel belongs to an institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Of the 16 scientists onboard, three were women.

Extensive fire-fighting operations were undertaken which continued for over eight hours. Following that ORV Sagar Sampada proceeded towards New Mangalore harbour safely.

Earlier this week, 12 thatched huts were gutted in a fire caused by an electrical short circuit in Kuthuppapallam near the Birds Road in Trichy. Properties worth lakhs of rupees were reduced to ashes. However, no casualty or injury was reported.

Shivamogga: Five thatched huts gutted into fire in Mattodi village. More details awaited. #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/tJIFYhZEch

— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2019

In Mid-February, over 300 cars were charred after a fire was sparked at the parking lot of Yelahanka air base, where the Aero India 2019 air show was being conducted. However, the relentless efforts of the fire brigade officials finally managed to put out the blaze at the air force station.

Talking about the Bandipur forest fire, the most dreadful incident in recent months, thousands of acres of land in the Bandipur tiger reserve were gutted in a fire, creating fear about the safety of wild animals and forest in the state. In the month of January, there were four other fire incidents in Karighatta, Charmudi, Bandipur and Davangere.

As the year 2019 continues to prove disastrous for the state of Karnataka in terms of combating fire incidents, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy held talks with the defence ministry along with IAF to intervene in the matter and to sustain the flora and fauna of the state.