KOCHI: Three persons, including a three-year-old, were injured after the roof of a warehouse collapsed at Mattanchery following heavy rain on Thursday. According to Fire and Rescue Services officers, the more than 70-year old warehouse was in a dilapidated condition. A major portion of its roof collapsed.
Fathima, 32, Rahamat, 28, and her son Farhan were the injured."The warehouse with an area of more than 10,000 square feet was built before 1947. For the past several decades, it has remained unused. Recently, a person hired the warehouse and rented it to families for residential purpose. Small cabins were made inside it for small families," said an officer with the Mattanchery fire station.
The incident occurred around 12.20 pm.
"One portion of the warehouse had already collapsed. Another side came down in the rain. There were around 10 families residing inside the go-down. Some workers in hotels and shops also reside there. The injured persons were rushed to a private hospital. With the assistance of the police, people who reside in the warehouse were shifted to another place," the officer said. The Mattancherry Police said families living in the warehouse were warned of the bad condition of the building. "We had asked the occupants to shift to another place on several occasions. However, due to the cheap rent, people preferred to stay there," an officer said.