Belgavi: A major fire sparked by an electrical short circuit destroyed nearly 50 acres of sugarcane fields in Yadur village of Chikodi taluk on Thursday, causing an estimated loss of about ₹1 crore. The incident has left affected farmers devastated and demanding timely compensation from the government, reports The Times of India.
According to villagers, the fire began when a group of birds settled on loose, low-hanging electricity wires. As the birds moved, the wires are believed to have touched, generating a spark. Flames quickly erupted in a nearby sugarcane field and spread rapidly with the help of strong winds.
Residents made several attempts to bring the fire under control, but the blaze intensified within minutes. Fire teams from the Chidanand Kore Cooperative Sugar Factory in Chikodi and the Sadalaga Fire Station rushed to the spot, but by the time they reached the village, the standing crop had already been reduced to ashes.
The loss has affected multiple farmers, including Suresh Kagwade, Mahesh Kagwade, Chandrashekhar Kagwade, Balu Kagwade, Iragonda Patil, Prakash Miraje, Sadashiv Miraje, Ashok Miraje, Vasant Shinde, Maruti Shinde, Shivaji Shinde, Rama Shinde, Shankar Shinde, Annappa Norje, Dhondiba Suryavanshi, Nemanna Ammanagi, Satish Chavan and several others.
The farmers have appealed to the authorities to carry out an urgent assessment of the damage and provide compensation, saying the fire has destroyed their entire season’s income.
