Traffic disrupted for two hours at Kottiyam Junction; loss of Rs 20 lakh

KOLLAM: Hundreds of people, including commuters and those working in various commercial establishments, were shocked to see smoke rising from a building in the heart of Kottiyam Junction in the afternoon. People were unable to start the rescue operation on their own due to the crowded establishments. The fire force arrived 20 minutes later and started extinguishing the fire.

Gas cylinders were quickly removed from shops near the studio where the fire broke out. Employees of nearby establishments moved away in fear of the fire spreading. Fire force vehicles reached the top of the flyover under construction at Kottiyam Junction and sprayed water on the building six meters away.

Traffic is being diverted through the service road at Kottiyam Junction due to the construction of the flyover. Traffic on the service road was brought to a standstill for two hours as more people arrived after hearing about the fire. With this, a long queue of vehicles formed on the national highway for several kilometres. Later, the police intervened and diverted the vehicles through side roads.

The cause of the fire is believed to be a short circuit. A financial institution also operates on the ground floor of the studio. The Kottiyam police said that the loss is estimated to be around Rs 20 lakh. The Kottiyam police have registered a case in the incident and have started an investigation.