Disaster averted at Cauvery Arts and Crafts Emporium

The Cauvery Arts and Crafts Emporium, at the MG Road-Brigade Road junction, was partially gutted in a fire that broke out on Tuesday night. No casualties were reported.

The emporium was closed when the fire broke out at 8.15pm. Emporium employees said a large number of paper mache items, Channapatna toys, carpets and fabric items were destroyed.

An employee said, “The mezzanine ceiling has collapsed. Luckily, the fire did not affect anything downstairs, where a large number of expensive sandalwood, wood and agarbatti artefacts are stored. These could have caught fire easily; it might have been a major disaster.”

Six fire engines rushed to the spot. The busy intersection witnessed chaotic traffic after the fire broke out, as motorists stopped to watch. The emporium, which regularly attracts a large tourist population, closes its shutters at about 7.30pm.  Cubbon Park traffic inspector Geeta Kulkarni, who was manning the MG Road-Brigade Road junction, first spotted the fire. 

Lukose Vallatharai, MD of Karnataka State Handicraft Development Corporation Ltd, owners of the emporium, said, “It looks like an electrical short circuit. We do not know the precise cause or the extent of damage yet.”