Udupi: A fire broke out in an old commercial building located directly opposite the city bus stand in Udupi on Sunday evening, April 26, causing concern among residents and shopkeepers in the busy area.
The building, situated in a prime commercial locality, housed several shops that were operational at the time of the incident. While no casualties have been reported so far, the blaze triggered panic in the vicinity as thick smoke engulfed the surroundings.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire started in the evening hours when business activity was ongoing in the area. Shopkeepers and customers were present inside the building when the flames were first noticed.
People in and around the premises quickly evacuated as the fire began to spread, preventing any major injuries. However, the exact extent of damage to the shops and property is yet to be officially assessed.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities are expected to conduct a detailed investigation.
Onlookers and local residents expressed frustration over what they described as a delay in the arrival of fire and emergency services. Given the building's location in the heart of the city, many felt that response time should have been quicker.
The delay reportedly heightened anxiety among those gathered at the scene, as flames continued to spread before firefighting teams reached the spot.
Fire and emergency services eventually responded with reinforcements from multiple stations. A total of four fire tenders from Udupi, Malpe, Padubidri, and Kundapur were deployed to tackle the blaze.
Firefighters worked to contain and extinguish the flames, preventing the fire from spreading to nearby structures in the densely built commercial area.
Their coordinated efforts ensured that the situation was brought under control without escalation into a larger disaster.
Authorities are expected to initiate an inquiry to ascertain the cause of the fire. Possible factors such as electrical faults, storage of flammable materials, or structural vulnerabilities in the old building may be examined.
Officials are also likely to review safety compliance measures in similar commercial establishments across the city.
The incident has once again highlighted the risks associated with ageing structures in busy urban areas and the importance of rapid emergency response. While timely evacuation helped avoid casualties, concerns over response time and fire safety preparedness remain key issues for authorities to address.