A godown of the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) in Thumba on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram was gutted in a massive fire that broke out during the wee hours of Tuesday. A fireman who was involved in the fire-fighting operation was killed in action.
The incident occurred at the District Drug Warehouse of the State-run KMSCL in the KINFRA International Apparel Park around 1.30 a.m. On hearing a huge explosion, a few passersby alerted the security team at the park premises. Soon, nearly 10 fire force units were dispatched to the scene from various fire force stations in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam.
Official sources said the gutted godown apparently stored a wide range of chemicals including bleaching powder, washing soda, surgical spirit, chloroxylenol and chlorhexidine handrub. Other products including calamine lotion and turpentine liniment were also stocked in the single-storied building that was situated close to the main building that stocked medicines worth nearly ₹16 crore.
