Bhatkal: A fire broke out at JMFC court in Bhatkal on Friday morning burning the interior furniture, including the front portion of the wooden roof to ashes. Surprisingly, it was raining heavily in Bhatkal overnight and the fire broke out during the rain.

It has been reported that during the Fajr prayers, the imam of a mosque who was passing from highway, saw flames rising from the roof of the court and immediately informed the fire brigade at around 4:30 AM. Fire fighters reached the spot as soon as the report was received and started to douse the fire.

Since the roof of the court is made of wood, it is believed that the fire started to affect the wood immediately due to short circuit, with which tables, cupboards, chairs, etc. of the inner rooms including the roof turned into ashes. Attempts were made to save the court papers, documents and files, but many of the documents in the cupboards were reportedly destroyed.

Bhatkal Town PSI Suma was present at the spot along with other police staff.

Senior civil Judge Jagadish Shivpuje, Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner Mamata Devi and Tahsildar Ravichandra also visited and inspected the damage.