The boats, which were anchored in the backwaters, quickly caught fire. The intensity of the blaze was reportedly increased by the explosion of gas cylinders stored on board the vessels after the fire spread.
Vessels Affected: The destroyed vessels included trawling boats and smaller boats used for deep-sea traditional fishing, belonging to owners from Kulachal and Poovar. Chinese fishing nets (Cheena Vala) in the backwaters also suffered damage.
Emergency Response: Multiple fire tenders from Kollam and surrounding areas rushed to the spot and spent hours battling the flames. Other nearby boats were safely moved, which prevented the disaster from escalating further.
Cause Unclear: The exact cause of the fire is yet to be determined, and authorities are investigating possibilities ranging from short circuits to sabotage.
No Injuries: Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
Prior Incident: This incident follows a similar fire last month in the Ashtamudi backwaters, where two anchored boats caught fire, injuring two people. The recurring nature of such accidents has raised concerns among the local fishing community.
Authorities have announced a detailed inquiry into the incident to ascertain the cause and the extent of the loss, which is estimated to be in crores of rupees.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com