A suspected electrical short circuit in a refrigerator triggered a massive fire that gutted a house in Coimbatore's Rathinapuri, reducing a family's belongings, valuables and important documents to ashes while they were away at work.
Coimbatore: A suspected electrical short circuit in a refrigerator triggered a major fire at a rented house in Rathinapuri, Coimbatore, on Sunday, completely destroying the family’s belongings while they were away at work.
The affected family, originally from Melur in Madurai district, had migrated to Coimbatore around 20 years ago in search of livelihood. Jayaprakash works at a tea shop, while his wife, Priya, is employed as a domestic worker. Their son, Arun Kumar, works as an electrician. The family had been residing in a rented house on Narayanasamy Layout 2nd Street in Rathinapuri.
According to police, all three family members had locked the house and left for work when the fire broke out. A suspected electrical short circuit in the refrigerator is believed to have caused the appliance to explode, triggering a blaze that rapidly engulfed the house.
Neighbours noticed thick black smoke billowing from the house and immediately alerted the Rathinapuri Police and the Kavundampalayam Fire and Rescue Services personnel.
Firefighters rushed to the spot and battled the flames before bringing the fire under control, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring houses.
The blaze destroyed household articles, furniture, important documents, certificates and other valuables. The family also claimed to have lost five sovereigns of gold jewellery purchased through years of savings.
Police are investigating the exact cause of the fire.
The affected family, originally from Melur in Madurai district, had migrated to Coimbatore around 20 years ago in search of livelihood. Jayaprakash works at a tea shop, while his wife, Priya, is employed as a domestic worker. Their son, Arun Kumar, works as an electrician. The family had been residing in a rented house on Narayanasamy Layout 2nd Street in Rathinapuri.
According to police, all three family members had locked the house and left for work when the fire broke out. A suspected electrical short circuit in the refrigerator is believed to have caused the appliance to explode, triggering a blaze that rapidly engulfed the house.
Neighbours noticed thick black smoke billowing from the house and immediately alerted the Rathinapuri Police and the Kavundampalayam Fire and Rescue Services personnel.
Firefighters rushed to the spot and battled the flames before bringing the fire under control, preventing it from spreading to neighbouring houses.
The blaze destroyed household articles, furniture, important documents, certificates and other valuables. The family also claimed to have lost five sovereigns of gold jewellery purchased through years of savings.
Police are investigating the exact cause of the fire.