Date:10/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/10/stories/2006021025170300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

150 huts gutted in `Gulbarga Jopdi'

Staff Reporter

The colony had poor people who migrated from north Karnataka

BANGALORE: Nearly 150 families were rendered homeless after their huts in Chandra Layout police station limits were gutted in the early hours of Thursday.

The police said the fire that broke out in a hut at Vinayaka Layout, off Nayandahalli, spread to 150 huts, destroying household articles and clothes. Around 12.30 a.m., Mallamma, a construction worker, came out of her hut to answer nature's call. On noticing fire in a hut, she raised an alarm.

The residents of the hutment rushed out of their houses and tried to put out the fire. But the fire spread fast and destroyed nearly 150 huts. Six fire tenders were rushed to the spot. The hutment, commonly known as "Gulbarga jopdi," was home to hundreds of construction workers who migrated to the city from Gulbarga and other north Karnataka districts. Binnypet MLA V. Somanna visited the hutment and promised help to the victims. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Alok Kumar and Deputy Commissioner of Police (West) K.V. Sharathchandra visited the spot.

ISKCON's gesture

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple provided immediate relief to the slum dwellers who lost all their belongings and homes. It supplied food and clothes to the affected people.