Fire Guts 38 Konda Reddi Tribes Homes in Kakinada District

At least 38 thatched houses belonging to members of the Konda Reddi tribal community were destroyed in a fire mishap at Sarlanka village in Prathipadu mandal of Kakinada district. The incident occurred late on Monday night, January 13, while most residents had left the village to attend the weekly shandy ahead of Sankranti celebrations. No loss of human life or cattle was reported.

Short Circuit Suspected as Cause

According to local residents, the fire reportedly broke out due to a short circuit in the village electricity supply. The flames spread rapidly because of the closely built thatched houses, leaving little time for intervention. The affected houses were home to 56 families, all of whom lost their shelters and household belongings in the blaze.

Communication Gaps Delayed Response

Villagers stated that those present at the time of the incident were unable to alert authorities immediately due to the absence of mobile network connectivity in the area. This delay hampered early firefighting and relief efforts, allowing the fire to engulf multiple houses before assistance arrived. The incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of remote tribal habitations.

Leaders Visit, Relief Operations Underway

Sana Sateesh, Member of Parliament from Kakinada, and Varupula Satyaprabha visited Sarlanka village to assess the damage. The village lies close to the border of Anakapalli district. Local residents informed the leaders that recently harvested paddy was still lying in the fields and had not yet been brought home, adding to their economic distress. Police and district officials have initiated relief operations and damage assessment.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Konda Reddi is a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Andhra Pradesh.
• Kakinada district is located on the east coast of Andhra Pradesh.
• Sankranti is a major harvest festival celebrated across southern India.
• Thatched houses are highly vulnerable to fire hazards.

Concerns Over Tribal Safety and Infrastructure

The fire mishap has raised concerns about electrical safety, emergency communication, and disaster preparedness in tribal regions. Activists and locals have urged the administration to ensure safer housing, reliable mobile connectivity, and quicker emergency response mechanisms to prevent similar incidents in the future.