Gokarna
A major fire incident was reported in the early hours of Thursday when a cooking gas cylinder exploded at the residence of Muralidhar Kamath in Banglegudda, Gokarna. The powerful explosion and subsequent blaze completely gutted the house, leaving behind only charred remains of the structure and belongings.
Fortunately, no loss of life was reported as neither Muralidhar nor his family members were present at the time. Muralidhar, a hotelier by profession, runs a small restaurant near Kudle Beach. As part of their routine, the family had stayed overnight at the restaurant. Their absence from home is believed to have prevented a potential tragedy.
However, the incident has raised serious suspicions. Muralidhar claimed that the cylinder was locked and secured, making an accidental explosion unlikely. There was a cylinder lock. How could it have exploded on its own? This was done deliberately by someone, he said, expressing concerns that the fire might have been intentionally set by miscreants when the house was unoccupied.
Neighbours reported seeing flames engulfing the house before alerting emergency services. A fire brigade team from Kumta rushed to the spot and worked to bring the fire under control, preventing it from spreading to nearby houses. Despite their swift action, the house was completely destroyed.
Police officials from Gokarna visited the site and have begun an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire. They are examining whether foul play was involved, as alleged by the owner, or if the incident was the result of a technical malfunction.
