Household items worth 5L destroyed in fire

Salem: A fire broke out at a house at Chinna Tirupathi in the city on Saturday afternoon, destroying household items worth 5 lakh. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.
According to the Kannankurichi police, thick smoke emanated from the house of M Manivannan, 49, a coolie from Santhi Nagar Avenue at Chinna Tirupathi, around 2pm.
On seeing this, neighbours alerted Manivannan, who was away at work, and his wife, who was asleep at the house.They also alerted the Shevapet fire station. "Manivannan's children were playing outside when the fire was reported," police said.
Firefighters rushed to the spot and put out the fire after an hour's struggle. Preliminary inquiry revealed that a television, refrigerator, washing machine and a bike were completely gutted in the incident.
The Kannankurichi police have registered a case and initiated an inquiry.