What caused complex fire?

What caused complex fire?
BENGALURU


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Friday, the June 13, is something they would like to forget in a hurry. When they got up in the morning, little did they know what was in store.

After brisk business during the day, followed by their customary Friday puja in the evening, they all left home for better things to happen in future. Within six hours of closing the shops, they were left to rue their misfortune. In a major fire that broke on late Friday night gutted more than 100 shops in Jayanagar 14th block Block.

Though the cause of the mishap is yet to be ascertained, many shopkeepers feel a lamp which was lit in one of the shops may have caused the fire. According to them, a rat or bandicoot may have pushed the lamp down, leading to the disaster.

The smoke billowing from the complex spoke of the grim situation that the shopkeepers have to cope with.

With charred goods in front of them, they could hardly speak. Though the officials in the fire department suspect it could be a short circuit, the shop owners have a different story to tell.

"Despite several complaints against the menace of rats and bandicoots in the shops, no one bothered to take note of it," said a shopkeeper whose only earning was from his small shop which sold pooja items.

According to Mr Shankarappa, a shopkeeper, there is a tradition which is followed in the complex where all the shopkeepers perform puja every Friday evening.

"During the puja we light a lamp. The mishap occurred after that."

Rats are also dangerous as they damage the inner wiring of the building, said a fire personnel. He said fire due to short circuit is also one of the possibilities.

According to Mr Shankarappa, a shopkeeper, there is a tradition which is followed in thes complex where all the shopkeepers perform puja.