24 houses damaged in blaze

PUDUCHERRY: Twenty-four houses were gutted in a fire near Samipillaithottam on Thursday. No loss of life or injuries were reported.Tahsildar B Thillaivel said, 12 houses were fully damaged in the fire, which started around 2.40 pm after a gas cylinder in the house of Vadivelu exploded. Six fire tenders were pressed into service and the fire was brought under control by 3.30 pm, he added. An amount of  Rs 12,000 was announced as compensation for fully damaged houses, and Rs 2,500  for partially damaged ones. It would be distributed on Friday.