Massive Fire at Kerala Medical Services Corporation Warehouse Claims Firefighter's Life

During the early hours of Tuesday, a godown belonging to the Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) in Thumba, located on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, was engulfed in a destructive fire. Tragically, a firefighter lost his life while participating in the firefighting operation.

The incident took place at approximately 1:30 a.m. within the District Drug Warehouse of the state-run KMSCL, situated in the KINFRA International Apparel Park. The security team at the park premises was alerted by passersby who heard a loud explosion. Subsequently, approximately 10 fire force units were dispatched from various stations in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam to the scene.

According to official sources, the gutted godown contained a wide assortment of chemicals, including bleaching powder, washing soda, surgical spirit, chloroxylenol, and chlorhexidine handrub. Additionally, products such as calamine lotion and turpentine liniment were stored in the single-storied building, which was in close proximity to the main structure housing medicines worth nearly ₹16 crore.

Tragically, J.S. Renjith, a 32-year-old officer from Attingal and a member of the Chakka fire force station, lost his life when a section of the building collapsed on him. While attempting to open a shutter, he was crushed by a falling concrete beam. Despite being rushed to a private hospital, he succumbed to his injuries at approximately 3:30 a.m. Renjith had served the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services for seven years.

Although multiple agencies have initiated investigations into the fire incident, initial findings suggest that the bleaching powder may have caught fire due to extreme heat. Preliminary estimates indicate a loss of ₹1.22 crore.

District Collector Geromic George has ruled out the possibility of sabotage, but he has ordered chemical tests to be conducted on samples of the bleaching powder. The packaging of the chemicals will also be examined to determine the cause of the fire.

This marks the second fire outbreak reported in a drug warehouse operated by KMSCL in a week. The District Drug Warehouse in Kollam suffered a similar fate, resulting in losses amounting to ₹8 crore. The unnaturally frequent occurrence of such incidents has raised concerns about the quality of chemicals stocked by KMSCL.

Jeevan Babu K., the managing director of KMSCL, has launched a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the circumstances leading to the incidents in both Kollam and Thumba. The quality of the stored bleaching powder will also be examined. He added that precautions had been taken to store such chemicals separately to minimize the risk of fire mishaps.

Santhosh Koshy Thomas, the managing director of KINFRA, stated to the media that the building was structurally sound and possessed all the necessary clearances. The godown had been operational in the rented building for nearly a decade.

However, B. Sandhya, the Director General of Police, Fire and Rescue Services, revealed that the building lacked a no-objection certificate from the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services. Furthermore, it did not possess the required firefighting capabilities necessary for a facility storing such hazardous materials. She mentioned that the fire force had conducted a fire audit and provided the necessary instructions.