A fire that broke out at a furniture showroom in Kotagala Town, Hatton left three shops belonging to the same showroom completely destroyed. 

The fire had broken out on the ground floor of the showroom at around 10 p.m. on Sunday (5) night, while the shop owner and his wife were on the upper floor of the shop, the Police said.

The fire was later brought under control by traders of Kotagala Town together with officers of the Dimbula Pathana Police, troops of the Kotagala army camp, and plantation workers.

However, the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council’s fire brigade arrived at the scene only after the fire was brought under control, resulting in a tense situation, with the residents in the area protesting the fire brigade’s late arrival and delayed response.

The damage caused by the fire has not been estimated as yet.

Dimbula Pathana Police, who are investigating the fire, mentioned that the cause of the fire is suspected to be due to an electrical short.

Meanwhile, Kotagala Traders’ Association President Viswanathan Pushpa said that the shops in Kotagala City would remain closed for a few hours on Monday (6), protesting against the lack of support from the Fire Fighting Unit to control the fire that broke out in the city.