Massive fire guts oil mill in Kozhikode; heavy losses reported

KOZHIKODE: A devastating fire gutted the SR Oil Mill at Kannipoyil in Atholi on Sunday, destroying thousands of liters of oil and raw materials. According to emergency services, the blaze erupted at around 11:30 AM. Given the highly inflammable nature of the inventory, the fire spread rapidly throughout the structure, which was constructed entirely of iron sheets. Five firefighting units—two from Koyilandy and one each from Narikkuni, Vellimadukunnu, and Perambra—were rushed to the scene to battle the inferno. It took firefighters nearly four hours of strenuous effort to safely bring the raging flames under control. The mill, owned by Shaiju, a resident of Malaparamba, suffered extensive structural damage. A massive stock of raw coconuts, copra (dried coconut kernels), and approximately 2,000 liters of processed coconut oil were completely reduced to ashes. While the financial loss is estimated to be heavy, no casualties or injuries have been reported so far. An investigation into the exact cause of the fire is underway.