Kozhikode textile fire: Loss pegged at 50cr

Kozhikode: The fire that gutted large sections of Jayalakshmi Silks showroom at Palayam on Tuesday was estimated to have caused a loss of around Rs 50 crore. Kozhikode town police registered a case based on a complaint filed by the showroom manager. A preliminary inspection by fire and rescue services on Wednesday could not determine the exact cause of the fire, which erupted in the four-storey building on Kallayi Road around 6.10pm. Large quantities of textiles were stocked in the showroom ahead of the festive seasons of Eid Al Fitr and Vishu. Firefighters battled the flames for nearly three hours before bringing the situation under control. Multiple fire units from across the district, along with a tender from Calicut International Airport, were pressed into service. By 7.30pm, personnel managed to contain the flames on the exterior. However, intermittent shattering of glass panes hampered operations. The fire was eventually subdued by simultaneously spraying water from three engines.