50 shops gutted as fire brought under control in Taliparamba; Formal probe likely

KANNUR: The fire that broke out near the Taliparamba bus stand was brought under control by Thursday night. District Collector Arun K Vijayan said that about fifty shops were gutted in the accident. The cause of the accident is still unknown. 15 fire force units arrived from Kannur, Kasaragod and other districts to bring the fire under control. The Collector said that an investigation will be conducted into the cause of the fire, and the compensation will be calculated later. The Collector made no room for rumours as he said there was no delay in the rescue operation.

Fire broke out at the KV Complex, located near the Taliparamba bus stand near the national highway, at around 4:30 pm today. More than 60 shops operate here. Although initial reports suggest the cause of the fire to be a short circuit, eyewitnesses say that the fire broke out after a spark from a nearby transformer. This transformer was also destroyed in the fire.

As soon as the fire started, traders and others evacuated people from nearby shops and the area. Initially, two units of the Taliparamba fire force reached the spot, but the fire had spread inside the shops and could not be controlled. Later, 12 more fire units from Kannur, Payyannur, Mattannur, Kanhangad, Thrikaripur, reached the spot. The fire was totally controlled only after a fire engine with high technology equipment from the airport arrived. Mobile shops, clothing stores, shoe stores, vegetable shops, and steelware shops were engulfed in flames.

Traffic on the national highway was completely disrupted following the fire. Vehicles were diverted via Trichambaram and other local roads. There was a complete power outage in the city. The extent of the accident was compounded by the fact that fire force units were unable to enter the area where the fire was spreading, even three hours after the accident. The shops around the place are alleged to be operating without following proper safety standards, which prolonged rescue operations. There are also allegations of fire force units reaching late despite being informed earlier.