Joyalukkas Wedding Centre gutted by fire

KOCHI: A major fire broke out at Joyalukkas Wedding Centre at Marine Drive in the wee hours of Sunday.The fire fighters had to sweat it out as they were facing a situation of such a  magnitude for the first time. The fire and rescue department on Club House Road got the first alert about the blaze after Saturday midnight, Joy Kuruvilla Easo, Divisional Officer, Fire and Rescue Services, said.Though the blaze was contained by the Fire and Rescue Services, it was smouldering in the evening, he said. There is no cause for concern as of now, he said.At least 125 fire personnel were engaged in fighting the fire. Eighteen fire tenders were engaged in the exercise. The underground sump at the building aided the fire fighters in replenishing their stock. The fire had engulfed the entire building and gutted almost everything, he said. The electrical inspectorate officials who came to ascertain the cause of the fire could not come to any conclusion due to unfavourable conditions and billowing smoke. The fire brigade was alerted by the passers by who saw smoke emanating from the shopping centre.Fire tenders from Kadavanthara, Club Road, Mattanchery and Thrikkakara were rushed to the spot. Later more fire tenders were summoned from other areas such as Angamaly, Aluva, Muvattupuzha and  Kaloorkkad to make the exercise more effective. The fire service personnel struggled to put out the ravaging fire. The thick column of smoke made the fire fighting very difficult.