A major fire gutted the godown adjoining a supermarket selling stationery items at Angamaly on Tuesday, inflicting heavy damage and sparking tension in the area for several hours.

The proprietor of the firm sustained injuries from a fall while attempting to douse the flames and was rushed to a private hospital in Angamaly. The fire broke out at Babu’s Traders Wholesale Supermarket along the national highway around 4 p.m.

The blaze reportedly first erupted on the top floor of the godown before spreading rapidly. It was brought under control around 6.30 p.m. Traffic along the national highway was disrupted as vehicular movement was restricted on safety grounds.

The cause of the fire remains unknown. The godown employed around 50 staff, some of whom were heading out for food when the fire broke out. Employees initially tried to douse the flames with water jars, but their efforts proved futile. As the majority of the materials were plastic or related items such as perfumes, plastic sheets, ropes and decorative items, the fire spread quickly. Computers and other office equipment were also lost.

Around 10 fire tenders from Fire and Rescue units in Angamaly, Chalakkudy, Perumbavur, Mala, Aluva, Eloor and Kochi Airport were deployed to contain the blaze. Fire tenders faced difficulty manoeuvring through the narrow road on one side of the godown, while a fruit wholesale shop operated on the other. Minister for Higher Education Roji M. John, Aluva DySP Baiju Paulose and Angamaly municipal chairperson Reetha Paul coordinated the rescue operations.