Ashopping complex, a private bus and three motor bikes were gutted in a majorfire that broke out at Nilamel near here in the wee hours of Monday. Though nocausalities were reported in the incident the losses have been estimated betweenRs 2 crore and Rs 3 crore.
Meanwhile, a major tragedy was averted asthe fire did not spread to the petrol bunk adjacent to the shopping complex,thanks to the prompt intervention of the Fire and Rescue Services and Policepersonnel.
Extent of damage could have beenunimaginable if the fire had spread to the petrol bunk of Hindustan Petroleumwhich had a stock of 8,500 litres underground petrol at the pump. The firewhich broke out in the ground floor of the Fouzy Shopping Complex around 3.30am, which houses a super market, along the MC Road near Nilamel junction, issuspected to have been triggered by a short circuit.
The Chadayamangalam Police said that theyreceived a call around 3.45 am. The newspaper distributors were the first tonotice the fire and smoke emanating from the shopping complex.
The fire fighters from nearby Kadakkal Fire Station were immediately pressed intoservice.
Meanwhile, the fire spread to the private bus (owned by Triveni Motors) andthree motor bikes parked at the petrol bunk. Luckily the fire did not spread tothe 8,500 litre petrol tank, the valve of which was near the gutted bus.
Another empty petrol tanker parked nearbywas immediately moved to safety. The traffic along the MC Road came to a haltfor over 3 hours as a result of the fire. Fire fighters took around four hoursto douse the fire and 10 fire tenders from various fire stations in Kollam andThiruvananathapuram districts were pressed into service.
The fire was brought under control by 6.30a.m.and was extinguished by 8.30 am.
The Chadayamanagalam Police haveregistered a case on the basis of the statement made by the owner of the shoppingcomplex Nasarudheen of Nilamel. The exact damage is yet to be ascertained,while the Chadayamanagalam Police estimates a damage of around Rs 2 crore. Police said that according to the owner of the shopping complex, the loss isnearly Rs 2.45 crore.
The Electrical Inspector of the KeralaState Electricity Board conducted inspection at the gutted shopping complex onMonday afternoon. Police said that the service wires from the electric posts nearthe complex were burnt and initial evidence point that fire was triggered by shortcircuit.