KOLLAM: A massive fire broke out in a shoe godown situated above a house at Manna Villa in Melila Kuttikonam on Saturday morning, resulting in damages worth lakhs of rupees.

The godown owned by Binu George, was engulfed in flames, destroying more than 80 percent of its stock. The fire started in the early hours and officials from the Pathanapuram fire station were the first to arrive at the scene. However, their initial efforts to contain the blaze were unsuccessful.

Reinforcements from the fire force units in Punalur and Kottarakkara were called in and after a prolonged operation, the fire was brought under control. The quick response of the fire force ensured the flames did not spread to the residential house on the ground floor or to nearby properties.