Six shops in Kozhencherry town have been gutted in a devastating fire that broke out in the early hours on Thursday.
According to Sub-Inspector at the Aranmula police station S. Nandakumar, the fire was first noticed by the watchmen at a nearby building around 3.30 a.m.
The police suspects possibility of the fire spreading from the kitchen of a hotel. Two glass houses, a jewellery shop and a vessel shop were among the shops that have been gutted.
A few workers who were sleeping inside the hotel were rescued by the local people and police, later. The Fire and rescue team with six fire engines from Pathanamthitta, Ranni, Thiruvalla and Chengannur also rushed to the spot in the next one hour. It took about four hours to contain the raging fire, according to the police.
The gutted buildings were said to be more than 50 years old and the loss has been estimated at around Rs 1.30 crore, according to the police. The Aranmula police have registered a case.
DySP Sabu P. Idiculla; Circle Inspector of Police Majoj Kabeer; sub-inspectors K.K. Rajashekharan Nair and Nandakumar monitored the fire-fighting operations.
After visiting the site, local MLA K. Sivadasan Nair has stressed the need for setting up a fire force unit in Kozhencherry town.
