Now Reading: Major fire guts godown at Angamaly, traffic hit
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Major fire guts godown at Angamaly, traffic hit
A major fire gutted the godown adjoining Babu's Traders Wholesale Supermarket at Angamaly on Tuesday, causing heavy damage and disrupting traffic on the national highway for hours. The blaze broke out around…
A major fire gutted the godown adjoining Babu's Traders Wholesale Supermarket at Angamaly on Tuesday, causing heavy damage and disrupting traffic on the national highway for hours. The blaze broke out around 4 p.m., reportedly on the top floor, before spreading rapidly through plastic-based stock including perfumes, sheets, ropes and decorative items.
The godown owner sustained injuries from a fall while trying to douse the flames and was taken to a private hospital. Around 50 staff were employed at the godown, some were away for food when the fire started. Employees initially used water jars but failed to control it. Computers and office equipment were also lost.
Around 10 fire tenders from Fire and Rescue units across Angamaly, Chalakkudy, Perumbavur, Mala, Aluva, Eloor and Kochi Airport were deployed. Firefighters struggled with a narrow road on one side and a fruit shop on the other. The fire was brought under control by 6.30 p.m. The cause remains unknown.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Angamaly, a major commercial node on the NH 544, has seen rapid growth of wholesale godowns without commensurate fire-safety infrastructure. The Kerala Fire and Rescue Services Act requires godowns storing combustible goods to have fire NOCs and on-site extinguishing systems, but compliance in smaller wholesale units is often lax. The narrow access road here, which hampered fire tenders, is a recurring bottleneck in older market areas across Kerala. With the state facing peak summer heat and dry conditions, fire risk in such godowns is elevated. The Labour department and local municipality are likely to inspect the site and may issue show-cause notices under the Factories Act and Kerala Municipal Building Rules. The insurance assessment and cause report from the Fire and Rescue team, expected in the coming weeks, will determine whether the owner faces action for any safety lapses.
Source: thehindu.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
