THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid various conspiracy theories doing the rounds, fire officials have launched a probe into a major fire that gutted a building close to Padmanabhaswamy temple. Additionally, the ancient temple will get a primary fire warning and firefighting system based on suggestions to be submitted later this week. While an iron box kept carelessly at the godown of a textiles outlet is said to have triggered fire, rumours were afoot that this was a sabotage attempt on temple offices.
A four-member committee under divisional fire officer Naushad M. will submit the report. “Though the temple was slightly away from the spot of fire outbreak our administrative offices were nearby causing panic. While stones form most of the temple, wood is used in abundance, and this could be in trouble. We have no firefighting or early warning equipment at the temple presently, but there have been plans to set up the systems for some time,” said temple executive officer K.N. Satheesh.
Around 28 fire tenders had to toil for around three hours to put down the fire as experienced officials were out of the city on a training programme. The fire and rescue probe team set up by fire DGP A. Hemachandran will also probe whether there was a delay in reaching the spot where the fire broke out.
