At least 38 thatched houses of the Konda Reddi tribe were destroyed in a fire in Sarlanka village, Prathipadu Mandal, Kakinada district, on Monday night, January 13. The fire started due to a short circuit in the village's electricity supply. No deaths or injuries to people or cattle were reported. The incident happened while most tribals had gone to the weekly market before Sankranti celebrations. These 38 houses shelter 56 families. Communication was delayed as there was no mobile network in the village. Kakinada Rajya Sabha MP Sana Sateesh and Prathipadu MLA Varupula Satyaprabha visited the site. Locals said the recently harvested paddy was still in the fields. Police from Kakinada district are carrying out relief operations.