Kundapur: Accidental fire at SLRM unit causes losses worth lakhs

Mangalore Today News Network

Kundapur, Feb 12, 2026: An accidental fire broke out at the Solid Liquid Resource Management (SLRM) unit under the Belve Gram Panchayat on the evening of February 11, causing losses running into lakhs of rupees. The building was completely gutted in the blaze.

Thick smoke was noticed soon after the fire erupted, prompting local residents to alert the gram panchayat.

Former gram panchayat president S. Chandrashekar Shetty Surgoli, along with local youths, made strenuous efforts to douse the flames. Water was brought in through a local tanker in an attempt to bring the fire under control.

The fire brigade was informed, but by the time personnel arrived from Karkala, the building had already been completely destroyed. As the SLRM unit is located in a deserted area, a major disaster was averted.

Garbage had been accumulating at the SLRM unit for the past year without being disposed of. Despite the gram panchayat writing several letters to the Zilla Panchayat and the Deputy Commissioner, no cooperation was extended to clear the waste, alleged former gram panchayat president S. Chandrashekar Shetty.