In a startling display of negligence by fire service personnel, a building was tragically consumed by fire as the responding vehicle arrived without water. The incident unfolded at a hotel near Adi Udupi in the city, where flames erupted on Tuesday.
Upon notification, the fire service station at Brahmagiri, a mere 1.5 km away, dispatched a vehicle promptly. However, to the dismay of onlookers, the vehicle arrived ill-equipped—it lacked water to combat the blaze. Despite assurances of returning post-refilling from Malpe, the vehicle failed to reappear, leaving the scene vulnerable.
Sundar J Kalmady, a municipal councillor, shed light on the dire situation, revealing the absence of necessary firefighting resources. Amid escalating flames, locals and a handful of fire service personnel resorted to utilizing rainwater to wrestle the inferno into submission. Despite their valiant efforts, the structure bore the brunt of the devastation, nearly razed to the ground.
Efforts to seek clarification from fire service station officials were met with silence, leaving questions unanswered and accountability unaddressed.