KATTAKADA: A furniture shop at Pezhummoodu at Kattakada caught fire and a relative of the shop’s owner was charred to death during the mishap. The dead has been identified as Kattakada Poovachal Kappikkad Chithira Bhavan resident Surendran Nair (75).

The shop is Kappikadu native Rajeev’s Pooram home appliance and furniture mart at Kattakada Kottoor Road near Pezhummoodu. The incident happened at around 1am on Thursday. Rajeev’s brother Sajeev and friend Kannan, who were also inside the shop had a miraculous escape.

The shop has huge stocks of electronic goods and electric/electronic appliances and the ground floor functions as the godown. It was a neighbour who spotted the fire and alerted others. They broke open the shop and rescued Sajeev and Kannan but Surendran who usually slept at the back side could not be saved.

Later ten fire force units from fire stations from Neyyar dam and Nedumangadu rushed to the accident spot and doused the fire. Surendran’s body was found inside the bathroom and it was charred beyond recognition.

The body has been shifted to Medical College hospital mortuary. Surendran is survived by his wife and daughters Chithra and Manju.