Sirsi: A manufacturing facility specializing in fiber components for vehicles, situated in the Kolagibees Industrial area within Sirsi taluk, faced a devastating fire incident on Thursday.

The Dhanya Polytech Automobile unit, owned by Raghav Vishveshwar Hegde of Mashigadde, suffered a staggering loss estimated at Rs 3.5 crore as the flames consumed the entirety of the establishment. The primary cause of the conflagration is attributed to a short circuit.

The blaze engulfed various critical automotive fiber parts, including dashboards, bumpers, cushion seat backboards, and mirror covers, collectively valued at crores, rendering them irreparably damaged. Hegde reported detecting smoke emanating from the unit around noon on Thursday, prompting immediate action. However, attempts to quell the fire using water were thwarted by a lack of power supply, exacerbating the situation. The inferno rapidly escalated, reducing the manufacturing unit to ashes.

An investigation has been launched by Tahsildar Sridhar Mundalmani and police officials to ascertain the precise circumstances leading to the unfortunate incident.