Ullal: A major fire broke out at a scrap shop on National Highway 66 near Talapady on Sunday afternoon, destroying goods worth several lakhs of rupees.

The incident occurred at a shop owned by Iqbal and Ibrahim located along the Uchila highway, near the underpass, where workers were on duty when the blaze began.

Local residents first attempted to douse the flames, but the fire intensified, prompting the Fire and Emergency Services to intervene and bring it under control after some time.

A large stock of scrap materials stored in the shop was completely reduced to ashes. Locals alleged that the fire service vehicle arrived late at the scene, delaying the operation.

Ullal Police visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad has said that the government will strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy across all sectors at the earliest, following the High Court directive.

The High Court of Karnataka had recently directed the state government to "strictly and faithfully" implement the menstrual leave policy, pending formal enactment of the proposed legislation.

"I welcome the directive issued by the Karnataka High Court in support of our state government's ambitious menstrual leave policy," Lad said.

The state government has taken firm steps to implement the menstrual leave policy comprehensively, and as a model to the country, he said in a post on 'X' on Thursday.

"In line with the court's opinion that menstrual leave is a matter of women's dignity, justice, and humane recognition of their lived realities, we will strictly implement the paid menstrual leave policy--equivalent to one day per month, or 12 days per year--across all sectors at the earliest," he added.

The court had said that in the interregnum, it shall be incumbent upon the state to ensure effective operationalisation of the policy through the issuance of suitable guidelines, circulars, and administrative instructions, as may be necessary to secure its uniform, consistent, and rigorous implementation across all sectors.

The court issued the directive while hearing on a petition filed by 41-year-old Chandravva Hanumant Gokavi, who works in a hotel in Mudalgi of Gokak taluk in Belagavi district, before the Dharwad bench, seeking implementation of the November 20, 2025, order of the government providing one-day menstrual leave for all working women.