Thiruvananthapuram: A massive fire broke at a scrap godown along the West side of PRS Hospital at Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. Dark ominous smoke could be seen billowing into the houses and shops nearby.
The fear is that the fire, because of a strong wind in the area, could spread to the 50-odd houses in the area. However, people have been evacuated and no casualties have been reported.
One of the houses has been partially gutted but the Fire Force units that were rushed the area have managed to stanch the wild spread of the fire. It is nearly impossible to go near the area but a number of coconut trees could be seen consumed by the rising fires. It is now also known that people have been timely evacuated. The evacuation process is still on.
Though there was just one Fire Force unit initially, more units have been rushed from the Chakkai and Airport areas.
Sounds of minor explosions could be heard from the site of the fire. Fire Force officials say that these are sounds of glass bottles bursting the fire.
At the moment, there are six units of Fire Force in the area. A police team is busy evacuating people from the nearly 40 houses around the godown.
The fire began at around 12 noon on Monday, and spread to nearby houses. One of the houses, sources said, have been fully gutted.
There are still no reports of casualties.
Minister V Sivankutty who arrived at the spot said that the situation would be brought to normal soon. The minister said there were no casualties. "People were moved to safety promptly, " he told reporters.
The fire began at around 12 noon on Monday inside the scrap godown and spread to nearby houses, godowns and worshops.
It is said that the workers inside the godown were quickly shifted to a house nearby. Families in nearby houses were also shifted to houses a bit away where the fire would expectedly not reach.
The owner of the scrap godown, Sulphi, told reporters said it was a spark that fell from the power lines that pass right over the godown that set off the fire. Sulphi said the fire flared up quickly inside the godown and that he had promptly informed the Fire Force. Sources say it was this prompt response that saved lives and prevented the situation from going out of control. Even a nearby scrap godown was not affected.
The Fire Force personnel have now occupied the terrace of the tallest house in the area from where they could effectively hose down the fire below. The Fire Force seems to be in full control of the situation.
Officers on the ground also said that none from the area had to be taken to hospitals. However, police officers are still visiting nearby houses and shops to check on the occupants.
Nonetheless, the Killipalam area continues to be covered in dense dark smoke. Minor explosive sounds can be heard from the gutted showroom nearly two hours after the fire started. Fire Force officials say the godown could have bottles or containers filled with inflammable material like alcohol and petrol.
