Pipes worth crores gutted in major fire in Poopara

RAJAKKAD: Pipes kept in Poopara village office premises for Jaljeevan Mission clean water project were gutted in fire. The preliminary conclusion of the water resources department is that pipes worth more than Rs 2 crore have been destroyed by the fire. HDPE pipes to be laid up to a distance of 130 km were stored here.

The fire broke out at around 5:30 pm yesterday. Fire force units from Nedunkandam and Munnar tried to douse the fire but most of the pipes were gutted. Officials of the Kattappana Division of the Irrigation Department said that a few pipes were removed from here with the help of earthmovers. The cause of the fire is not clear. The pipes were kept in the land given away by the revenue department for construction of the building for Shanthanpara Govt. College.