Major fire in Kottayam; Ration shop and post office completely gutted

KOTTAYAM: Many shops including a ration shop, provision store and a post office were completely gutted in the major fire that broke out at Melukavu.

The shops were gutted in the fire that broke out at 5 am Wednesday morning. People who went to buy milk saw the fire and informed the fire force. Two units of fire force from Pala and Erattupetta doused the flames. However, the ration shop and the provision were completely gutted in the fire even before the fire force reached the spot. Many valuable documents kept in the post office were destroyed. It was a tiled building which was very old. Initial reports said short circuit is the cause of the fire.