Kozhikode, July 27: A major coconut oil mill was completely gutted in a massive fire at Beypore in this district late at night on Sunday.The fire broke out at Renuka Oil Mill at West Mahe near Beypore, said fire services wings.The blaze was so massive that firefighters took control of the blaze after more than eight hours, said sources.According to officials, employees noticed the fire and alerted the Fire and Rescue Services.Preliminary findings suggest the fire originated in the area where copra was stored for processing in dryers operated using firewood.Officials suspect it may have started in the dryer before spreading rapidly to copra stocks, sacks, plastic bottles and machinery largely piled inside the factory.A lorry parked on the premises was also completely destroyed in the blaze, said report.Initially, three fire tenders from the Meenchanda Fire Station were deployed later 10 more joined in the dousing operation due to the high intensity of the fire.Firefighters continued cooling operations on Monday by shifting copra stocks and dousing remaining hotspots to prevent the blaze from reigniting.The mill owners told reporters that the factory had been operating for the past 26 years, producing and supplying coconut oil across Kerala besides exporting its products.The exact extent of the damage is yet to be assessed, whereas the owners estimated the loss of worth over Rs 7 crore in the fire.On the other hand, the precise reason behind the incident is yet under study by the fire services personnel.
Oil mill in Kerala’s Beypore gutted into ashes
