The Hindu : Fire mishap in flat as burgle bid goes in vain

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 08, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Fire mishap in flat as burgle bid goes in vain

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, MARCH 7. An attempt by an unidentified person to burgle a flat on the second floor of an apartment building at Somajiguda led to a fire accident on Sunday morning. The thief, who fled apparently after the fire broke out, did not take away any valuable property.

However, furniture and clothes in the flat were destroyed, the Panjagutta Detective Inspector, R. Pratap Reddy, said. The owner of the flat, A. Ramaiah, was a retired employee of the DRDL. Two months ago, Ramaiah and members of his family left for America.

They locked the house and switched off the power supply. The offender climbed up the water pipe and sneaked inside the toilet by removing the ventilator. He broke open the bathroom door and entered the flat. As there was no power supply, he apparently lit a candle. "It seems the candle fell on some clothes and soon the fire spread to other parts in the flat forcing the accused person to beat a hasty retreat," Mr. Pratap Reddy said. Occupants of building noticed smoke emanating from the flat at around 9.15 a.m. and alerted the police. A fire tender was pressed into service.

The police later spoke to Mr. Ramaiah over phone. "As per his statement no valuables have been lost," the Inspector said.

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Andhra Pradesh