Fire broke out in Pathanamthitta due to negligence while frying banana chips, says fire force officials; detailed probe to be launched

PATHANAMTHITTA: The fire force department officials said that fire broke out in business establishments in Pathanamthitta city is because they didn't follow safety standards. The fire spread from oil during the preparation of banana chips, officials said. The police registered a case and decided to conduct a detailed investigation into the fire.

The cause of the fire became clear during the initial inspection conducted by the fire force officials. Officials said that the bakery did cooking on the street side in an unscientific manner which led to the accident. The explosion was caused after fire spread from the frying oil to the LPG cylinder. Officials also stated that more tests are required in this regard. In Friday's fire incident, four business establishments in the city were completely gutted. The district administration had also decided to conduct a detailed investigation into the accident in which two people were injured.

The police have decided to collect more evidence today including scientific tests at the accident site and check the permits of traders and buildings. The Disaster Management Authority has assessed that there is a possibility of fire in many establishments in Pathanamthitta, including the building complexes where the accident occurred. The district administration has directed the various departments to collect accurate information about such institutions in view of the current situation.