A major fire broke out in Kozhikode’s Sweet Market street on Wednesday in which almost 15 shops have been gutted. Seven fire engines are trying to douse the fire, with the help of locals.
According to reports, the fire started in a three-floor building of Modern Textiles, but the reason is not yet known. No causalities have been reported so far.
Firefighting officials are trying to remove five LPG gas cylinders which are still inside the burning shops. A firefighting team from Karippur will reportedly arrive to assist in dousing the fire.
District Collector UV Jose and MP Raghavan have rushed to the spot.
Mittai Theravu', also known as sweet market (SM) street, is the commercial hub of Kozhikode. It is also a historical street.
This is not the first time that a fire is breaking out in SM street.
Kozhikode’s historical street has witnessed fires many times in the past. In 2007, a firecracker wholesale shop caught fire, which claimed the lives of eight people and also destroyed around 50 shops.
In 2010, two fire mishaps were reported in which eight shops were gutted. In another incident in May 2015, a textile shop in the street was engulfed with fire which soon spread to other shops in the street. More than 15 fire force units were employed to extinguish the fire. Almost 20 shops were burnt down.
The last incident in June 2016 was a minor mishap, where a fire broke out in a textile shop.