Date:05/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/05/stories/2007040506350500.htm

Karnataka - Bidar

Seven huts damaged in fire

Staff Correspondent

LOSS: A woman sifts through her belongings that were damaged in a fire at her hut in Bidar on Wednesday.

Bidar: Seven huts were partially damaged in an accidental fire in Chidri village in Bidar taluk on Wednesday.

The eight families living in these huts suffered a total loss of Rs. 55,000. There were no casualties. Construction labourers, most of them from Uttar Pradesh, were staying in these huts. They are working under contractors at the Bidar Air Force Base. "All my shirts have been burnt," said Manoj Kumar. "The fire destroyed currency notes worth Rs. 10,000 in my hut. My husband and I had saved that money over a year," said Lalitha Devi, who was living in a hut made of coconut leaves.

A case has been registered at the Gandhi Gunj police station. Later, Congress leaders distributed saris and clothes to the affected families. Party district president V.K. Patil and leaders Arvind Arali and Salim Ahmed were present.

The Noor College of Nursing has offered to provide food and shelter to the affected families for three days, college president Raiz Khan told presspersons.