Overview

• The blaze erupted at around 8:30 a.m. on June 16 in a paint godown at Chalakudy’s North Junction.
• Fire tender units from Thrissur, Chalakudy, North Paravur, Angamaly, Mala, Puthukkad and Irinjalakuda were pressed into service to contain the flames.
• Thick black smoke billowed into the densely populated shopping district before firefighters succeeded in controlling the fire.
• Highly flammable paints and thinners intensified the blaze, though officials confirmed there were no injuries.
• Local residents, autorickshaw drivers and head-load workers helped salvage materials and shift cooking gas cylinders from adjacent shops.