Major fire breakout in residential area in Fort Kochi triggers panic
The Hindu
Major fire in Fort Kochi godown averted from spreading to nearby houses by multiple firefighting units in timely intervention.
Tension prevailed in Fort Kochi on Wednesday (January 29) night after a major fire that broke out in a used home appliance godown in Amaravathy division bang in the middle of a dense residential area threatened to spread to houses in the neighbourhood only to be averted by the timely intervention of multiple fire-fighting units.
The fire erupted around 8.30 p.m. reportedly due to a suspected short circuit, though it remains to be verified. The entire two-storey building was completely gutted in the fire.
It took firefighting units from Mattancherry, Thripunithura, Club Road, Gandhi Nagar, Vypeen and Pattimattom fire stations, in addition to units from the Cochin Port Trust and INS Dronacharya, more than an hour to establish even a semblance of control over the fire and stop it from spreading to nearby houses.
Incidentally, the godown had no licence. “We had denied renewal of licence and have already issued a notice on account of unauthorised door number issues. A burst in the refrigerator reportedly triggered the fire,” said Amaravathy division councillor Priya Prashanth. The gas presence in many appliances reportedly aggravated the blaze.
“Since the location near the Amaravathy Brahma Temple was narrow and congested, we asked people in the neighbourhood to remove gas cylinders and evacuate temporarily as a precautionary measure,” said sources in the Mattancherry police.
Accessibility issues also proved a major hurdle in the firefighting exercise. Sources in the fire and rescue services said portable pumps and hoses had to be extensively deployed to overcome the challenge and pump water. Though the fire was brought under control in over an hour, it was still smouldering, and thick smoke kept billowing out from the godown late into the night.
District Fire Officer K. Harikumar supervised the firefighting efforts. The extent of the damage remains to be verified.
Abhishek Banerjee challenges BJP's Suvendu Adhikari in Nandigram, pledging community health initiatives if Trinamool Congress wins.
Rising LPG shortages in Karnataka boost firewood demand, reviving an informal market as households and hotels seek alternatives.
Against the backdrop of intense poll activity, a 400-metre stretch of an arterial road in the outskirts of Chennai (technically in Madurapakkam panchayat under Tambaram assembly constituency) presents a salute to the idea of res publica, which underpins India’s system of governance, where citizens have a say, at least before a government is securely ensconced in the seat of power. A Republic Day initiative shines bright every night
Fadnavis claims zero FIR in Ajit Pawar crash is a defamation attempt by Karnataka against Maharashtra's investigation efforts.
Set to unfold as a one-day pop-up on April 5, the Easter Sadya brings together both vegetarian and non-vegetarian menus, offering a peek into the food traditions of the Syrian Christian (Nasrani) community. While the traditional Sadya is often associated with dishes such as sambar, avial, and rice, this version expands to include community-specific festive dishes.
BJP nominates mother of R.G. Kar victim Abhaya to contest from Panihati in West Bengal Assembly elections.
Veteran Malayalam actor-director E.A. Rajendran passes away at 71, leaving behind a rich legacy in the film industry.
Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat has rolled out digital mode of water bill generation and collection in 23 gram panchayats on a pilot basis for the first time in Karnataka. This is set to be extended to the remaining 200 panchayats shortly, according to the Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Narwade Vinayak Karbhari.
Bengaluru police questioned a man carrying ₹6 lakh for medical expenses at Vidhana Soudha, later releasing him after verification.
BJP accuses Bengaluru's Congress government of corruption in e-Khata issuance, halting infrastructure projects due to financial mismanagement.
Misinformation in Hyderabad sparks panic buying, causing disruptions as residents react to unfounded rumors of an impending lockdown.
Bengaluru Metro extends services until 2 a.m. on March 28 for IPL match, ensuring convenient travel for spectators.
A bus truck-collision in Andhra Pradesh's Markapuram district, killing several. Catch LIVE updates here!