Bhatkal woman who had come to M'luru for medical treatment dies in fire mishap at residential tower
Mangaluru: In an incident reported on Tuesday morning, Zareena Shaheen Kola (57), a resident of Bhatkal, lost her life in a fire that broke out on the twelfth floor of a seventeen-story building in Attavar. The unfortunate incident occurred in the wee hours of Tuesday at around 4 o'clock.
According to the reports, Zareena Shaheen Kola, had recently arrived in Mangalore from Dubai with her husband Abdullah Kola for medical treatment, and was staying in her son-in-law Shayan Damudi's flat along with her two daughters.
Reports further added that the fire originated in the hall of the flat during the night, leading to the rapid spread of smoke. Zareena Shaheen Kola, believed to be in the bathroom at the time, succumbed to suffocation.
Shayan Damudi, who was in Bhatkal during the incident, was alerted by his wife about the fire. All the other members of the family were trapped inside the flat before Shayan informed friends in the residential tower, who used an alternate key to open the flat door. They rescued Abdullah Kola and the two daughters, but Zareena Shaheen Kola had already passed away.
Fahad Shabandri, an active member of Bhatkal Muslim Jamaat in Mangaluru, and a resident of the same apartment tower, played a crucial role in the rescue and bravely navigated through smoke-filled rooms, they managed to pull out Abdullah and the two trapped women.
Following the incident, a team of Bhatkal Muslim Jamaat Mangaluru, including Arshad Mohtisham, Ashraf Sada, Saud Mohtisham, Moulana Dawood, and others, assisted the family and their relatives with paperwork and hospitalization procedures.
Abdullah is currently hospitalized at AJ Hospital, in stable condition despite suffering from heavy smoke inhalation, Ashraf Sada informed Vartha Bharati over a phone call. The two other women are also receiving medical attention at a private hospital.
The cause of the fire is unknown, and initial speculation about a mobile battery explosion was dismissed as there was no mobile in the hall. Ashraf Sada however, said that the cause of the fire could have been short circuit. The fire resulted in the burning and destruction of the aquarium, furniture, including the sofa, and other belongings.
A case has been registered at local police station, and further investigations are underway.
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Christmas decorations vandalised by VHP activists at school in Nalbari; Tension in area
Nalbari: Tension prevailed in the Panigaon area of Nalbari district on December 24 after members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal allegedly entered the premises of St Mary’s School and vandalised materials prepared for Christmas celebrations.
According to local sources, activists of the VHP and Bajrang Dal entered the school campus ahead of Christmas and raised slogans inside the premises. It is alleged that Christmas-related decorations and materials kept within the school compound were damaged and set on fire.
Eyewitnesses said that members of the Bajrang Dal were the first to enter the campus, during which they allegedly raised slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram,” “Jai Hindu Rashtra,” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” and burnt items prepared for Christmas celebrations. The incident created panic among local residents and led to concerns over law and order in the area. No injuries have been reported so far.
The incident comes amid reports of similar acts in Nalbari town in recent days, where Christmas decorations displayed at several commercial establishments were allegedly set on fire.
Reacting to the incident, fact-checker Mohammed Zubair said on social media that VHP and Bajrang Dal activists entered St Mary’s School on Christmas Eve, raised slogans and destroyed Christmas decorations. His post drew attention to the incident and sparked wider discussion online.
Police have not yet issued an official statement on the incident. Further details are awaited.
On Christmas Eve, Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal goons entered St. Mary’s School in Panigaon, Nalbari, chanting slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Hindu Rashtra.” They destroyed and set fire to all Christmas decorations prepared at the school. pic.twitter.com/LQHV7FWUvz
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) December 24, 2025
