Farmers in Shiraguppi village, near Kagwad in Belagavi district, reported on Monday that over 200 acres of sugarcane crop were destroyed in a fire believed to have been caused by a short circuit.
Fire and Emergency Services personnel, along with police officers, worked for hours to control the blaze.
Farmers’ leader Mahalinga Udagave told reporters that sparks from electrical wires hanging from power poles ignited dry grass in the fields, triggering the fire.
Udagave has called for compensation for the damage. HESCOM officials have stated that an investigation is underway to verify the cause of the incident.
