- Thirty-five fishing boats were gutted in a massive blaze and blasts which followed at a harbour in Visakhapatnam late on Sunday night.
- Local fishermen suspect some criminals set the boats on fire. There is also suspicion that the fire was triggered by a party in a boat anchored in the area
- As per the officials, the fire, which started with one boat, quickly spread to others in the vicinity.
- The fire broke out in an area near the Visakhapatnam Container Terminal and an Indian Oil Corporation facility where fishing boats were anchored.
- The cause of the fire, which erupted in the early hours and was extinguished by around 4 am, is still under investigation.
- No casualties have been reported.
Thirty-five fishing boats turned to ashes in a massive blaze and blasts which followed at a harbour in Visakhapatnam late on Sunday night. The estimated loss in the shocking incident is being estimated at about Rs 30 crore.
Local fishermen suspect some criminals set the boats on fire. There is also suspicion that the fire was triggered by a party in a boat anchored in the area.
Shocking visuals from the harbour showed firefighters trying to douse the flames as fishermen stared helplessly at the fire destroying their means of livelihood. The blasts in some of the boats were apparently caused by the fire-reaching fuel tanks. It also led to panic among the locals in the area.
As per the officials, the fire, which started with one boat, quickly spread to others in the vicinity. The fire broke out in an area near the Visakhapatnam Container Terminal and an Indian Oil Corporation facility where fishing boats were anchored.
The fire broke out in an area near the Visakhapatnam Container Terminal and an Indian Oil Corporation facility where fishing boats were anchored.
After receiving information about the accident, firefighters rushed to the spot, Visakhapatnam District Fire Officer S Renukayya told the media. “We pressed 12 fire tenders into service and sought the help of the National Disaster Response Force and the Visakhapatnam Port Trust,” he said. The official said there were no reports of any casualties so far.
The cause of the fire, which erupted in the early hours and was extinguished by around 4 am, is still under investigation. Officials have mentioned that the fire originated in a boat located in the zero jetty area and rapidly spread from there.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Visakhapatnam, Anand Reddy said the fire first broke out on a boat and then spread to nearly 35 fibre-mechanised boats at midnight. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident, he said.
No casualties have been reported. The police have registered a case and launched an investigation into the incident. “The fire broke out on a boat at Vishakhapatnam fishing harbour and then spread to nearly 35 fiber-mechanized boats at midnight. The police and fire teams responded immediately. The fire was successfully brought under control. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. No casualties or injuries were reported in the incident. An FIR has been filed and an investigation is underway,” said DCP Reddy.
(With inputs from agencies)
