Bidar, 1 April

Authorities reported that an electrical short circuit on Tuesday sparked a fire that rapidly engulfed a shed in Boral village in the Chitaguppa taluk of Bidar district.

A 65-year-old shepherd identified as Shankar Eerappa Metre was killed along with 30 sheep and 15 lambs.

Metre sustained burns to over 90 per cent of his body during the incident. Witnesses stated that he had been sleeping outdoors and rushed into the hut upon noticing the blaze.

The fatal fire that claimed the shepherd's life resulted in extensive property damage estimated at over Rs 26 lakh.

The sudden fire decimated not only the shed but also the surrounding structure and its vital contents, including a flock of sheep and lambs, and significant reserves of maize, wheat, and cotton.

Tahsildar Mahesh Patil, Additional Superintendent of Police Chandrakant Pujari, CPI Raghuveer Singh Thakur, JESCOM Executive Engineer Ramesh Patil, AEE Ravi Karbari, and PSI Wasim Patil visited the spot and gathered information.