Massive fire accident at Jayalakshmi textiles result in Rs 50 crore loss; police register case

KOZHIKODE: The major fire that erupted at Jayalakshmi Silks in Palayam is estimated to have caused a loss of around Rs 50 crore. Officials said that as the Ramzan stock taking was ongoing, the loss was three times more than the fire accident in 2023. The town police registered a case on the complaint filed by Jayalakshmi Silks Manager K. Ajesh. Since the building has been severely damaged, it will take about three months for the establishment to resume operations. There are around 156 employees in the firm. They will be shifted to establishments in other cities until the renovation is completed.

Owner Govinda Kamat blamed the short circuit for the fire accident. The initial conclusion made by police also pointed to a short circuit on the first or second floor. Although the establishment does not have a dedicated cooking area, there is a small kitchen area to prepare tea. There is also a canteen space where the employees can eat food brought in from outside. The police doubt if the fire first erupted from this space. It is reported that smoke first rose from the canteen. A major accident was averted because 13 gas cylinders were removed from the canteen just at the beginning of the fire accident.