Date:25/06/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/06/25/stories/2009062558120300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada

Fire destroys houses

Staff Reporter

VIJAYAWADA: Fire broke out at Gollapudi near here in the early hours of Wednesday. Houses and materials worth more than Rs. 6 lakhs were reduced to ashes.

Fire started around 7.30 a.m. in a house when its resident was preparing food. It spread rapidly.

The fire was so intense that within a few minutes as many as 11 houses and huts were engulfed in flames. Fire personnel reached the spot and brought the flames under control.

As many as four fire tenders were pressed into service.

The fire service and police personnel faced several tense moments as there was a possibility of the fire spreading to nearby houses and huts.

The dwellers lost several valuables, including cash. Sub-Collector Gaurav Uppal and Mylavaram MLA Devineni Umamaheswara Rao were among those who visited the spot.