Twenty four shops and residences in the Pundalu Oya town in Kothmale were burnt to the ground in a fire that broke out early Friday morning.

Nuwara Eliya District Secretary, D.P.G. Kumarasiri said that 120 individuals from 32 families have been displaced as a result of the fire. The fire broke out at a shop on the upper shop street in the Pundalu Oya town on the Pundalu Oya – Nuwara Eliya main road, at about 1:45 a.m. on Friday. 

Our reporter said that the fire broke out at a shop selling agro-chemicals.

As the homes of several shop-owners were located in close proximity to the shops several homes were also damaged by the fire. The Fire Brigade of the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council doused the fire with the assistance of the police and residents.

Nuwara Eliya District Secretary D.P.G. Kumarasiri noted that it took about three and a half hours to douse the flames.Those displaced as a result of the fire are currently being sheltered temporarily at the Pundalu Oya Tamil College. Our reporter says that there are seven small children among the displaced.

Meanwhile, President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the scene this evening and inquired into the welfare of the people.

The President said:  “I think this had more to do with the lack of planning than with shortcomings in fire extinguishing. There have to be hydrants for putting out fires. When there are no hydrants and everything is constructed together without any planning,  the fire spreads.”

While there were no casualties reported as a result of the fire, Nuwara Eliya District Secretary, D.P.G. Kumarasiri said that the cost of the damage is being estimated. The cause of the fire has not been determined as yet.

The Police are conducting further investigations.

Meanwhile. President Mahinda Rajapaksa visited the Kothmale Pradeshiya Sabha where he donated essential items among the displaced.

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