A loss of ₹1 crore is estimated to have been caused by a fire outbreak in a two-storey structure housing a State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) outlet at Thathappilly in Kottuvally village, North Paravur, on Friday morning.
Fire tenders from Vadakkekara, Aluva, Gandhinagar and Eloor units were mobilised to douse the fire, which was spotted around 930 a.m. when smoke started billowing through the small air vent in the unpolished structure with a rolling shutter.
“As we reached, we realised there was a big blaze inside. The shutters had bulged out, and the heat was insufferable. The 2,000-sq ft outlet had stacked around 1,700 cases of liquor. That is completely lost. That apart, empty cartons heaped outside had caught fire too. We used foam to bring it under control and had a tough time opening the shutters. The only access to the upper floor was through an internal staircase.
Our preliminary assessment is that the fire originated from a generator that was inside the building. But the actual cause will only be known after an examination is carried out by the electrical inspectorate. We have informed them,” said V.G. Roy, station officer at the North Paravur fire station.
It took about an hour’s time to bring the conflagration under control.
