Kerala BJP demands action against Kozhikode Mayor and others after massive fire

IANS May 19, 2025 424 views

A massive fire erupted in a Kozhikode textile store owned by the local Corporation, sparking controversy. BJP leader K. Surendran has strongly criticized the city's municipal authorities for alleged safety negligence. The fire, which took over 10 hours to extinguish, fortunately resulted in no casualties. Investigations are now underway to determine the cause and potential administrative failures.

"The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and the Secretary are responsible for what happened" - K. Surendran, BJP Leader
Kerala BJP demands action against Kozhikode Mayor and others after massive fire
Kozhikode, May 19: BJP's former Kerala unit President K. Surendran on Monday demanded action against Kozhikode Mayor and other authorities, saying that they should be held responsible for the massive fire that broke out at a three-storied wholesale textile store on the previous evening.

Key Points

1

Fire broke out in three-storied wholesale textile store

2

Corporation accused of safety protocol violations

3

No casualties reported in 10-hour blaze

4

Police and fire service launch investigation

This building is owned by the Kozhikode Corporation, presently ruled by the CPI-M, and hence, the gravity of violations as alleged by the BJP and also by the Congress, assumes significance.

"The Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and the Secretary are responsible for what happened yesterday as the Kozhikode Corporation gave a license to this building, which does not conform to safety and security protocols," Surendran claimed.

"The Kozhikode city over the past years has witnessed around 15 fires, and each time a fire breaks out, only assurances are given, and no action is taken. We demand a judicial probe into the fires that have taken place in this historical city," he added.

The fire was first spotted around 5 p.m. on the second floor of a shopping complex that houses the textile outlet.

Witnesses reported seeing smoke and flames billowing from the upper floors, and soon engulfing the entire building.

Fortunately, police confirmed that no injuries or casualties happened. The building, being fully air-conditioned, posed a significant challenge to the fire and rescue personnel attempting to break through and assess the fire's spread.

Surendran also said that it was shameful that it took more than 10 hours for the fire to be doused.

" By now, it has surfaced that even the state Cabinet Ministers hailing from Kozhikode have turned silent on what has happened. This itself is enough to show that things with the Kozhikode Corporation are not fine," he alleged.

Kozhikode Corporation Mayor Bina Phillip said they will hold a full meeting of the council to take stock of things and if any official is found wanting in their duties, action would be taken.

Meanwhile, on Monday, the fire inspection wing of the fire service and also the police began their probes, and it has been ascertained that a proper fire audit of the building was not done.

The Congress and the BJP, which are in the opposition in the Kozhikode Corporation, are drawing out plans to organise a series of protests against the authorities.

Reader Comments

Here are 6 diverse Indian perspective comments for the article:
R
Rajesh K.
This is really concerning! 15 fires in recent years and no proper action taken? Safety audits should be mandatory for all commercial buildings. The corporation officials must be held accountable if negligence is proven. Hope the judicial probe happens quickly.
P
Priya M.
While BJP is right to demand accountability, they shouldn't make this political. People's safety is more important than party politics. The Mayor has promised action - let's wait for the investigation results before jumping to conclusions. 🙏
A
Arun S.
As someone from Kozhikode, I'm tired of these fire incidents! Our beautiful city deserves better infrastructure and safety measures. Why does it take a tragedy for authorities to wake up? Corporation should conduct immediate fire safety checks across all buildings.
S
Sneha R.
The real issue is systemic corruption in building approvals. Not just Kozhikode, this happens across India. Builders pay bribes, officials turn blind eye to violations. Until we fix this, such tragedies will keep happening. Strict punishment needed for violators!
V
Vikram P.
Thank God no lives were lost! But 10 hours to control the fire? Our fire services need better equipment and training. Maybe this incident will finally make the government upgrade emergency services in Kerala. #SafetyFirst
M
Meena T.
Instead of blaming each other, all political parties should work together to improve fire safety standards. We need practical solutions - better fire exits, regular drills, and public awareness campaigns. Let's not make this another political football match!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Your email won't be published


Disclaimer: Comments here reflect the author's views alone. Insulting or using offensive language against individuals, communities, religion, or the nation is illegal.

Tags:
Kerala BJP K. Surendran Kozhikode Fire CPI-M Municipal Corruption Fire Safety