Reckless revelry reduces 300 houses to ashes

RAJAHMUNDRY: The Veerabhadra Swamy temple festival was marred by a major fire, which destroyed over 300 houses at Palam village in Katrenikona mandal of East Godavari district on Monday.According to information, the fire broke out due to burst of crackers during the festivities in the island village in the Godavari river. However, no casualties were reported. The loss of property is yet to be assessed.Five fire tenders from Kakinada, Mummidivaram, Amalapuram, ONGC and Cairn Energy were rushed to the village to extinguish the flames. But they could not reach the village as the bridge connecting it to the mainland is too narrow.  Using small motor pumpsets, fire services personnel with the help of villagers extinguished the flames. Joint collector Babu, Amalapuram RDO Sampath Kumar and DSP Sridhar rushed to the village to oversee relief operations and rehabilitation measures.