The Southern Railway has launched a high-level departmental inquiry into the massive fire that tore through the two-wheeler parking lot at Thrissur station on January 4. In a pointed response to swirling rumours, officials have flatly denied claims that the blaze was sparked by faulty overhead electrical lines or that the parking structure itself was an illegal build. According to the railway's timeline, the fire broke out around 6:30 am on the station's west side. While RPF and police personnel initially fought the flames with hand-held extinguishers, the fire spread too quickly for them to contain alone. It took the Thrissur Fire Force, arriving within 15 minutes, about half an hour to bring the situation under control.
The scale of the damage is significant, with roughly 250 motorcycles and scooters either partially charred or completely destroyed. A departmental tower wagon parked nearby also suffered minor heat damage before it could be moved to safety. Interestingly, while the parking area was equipped with CCTV, the fire was intense enough to damage the control unit and hard drive. These components have now been handed over to the Thrissur West police for forensic recovery, which will be crucial in confirming eyewitness reports that the fire actually started within one of the parked bikes rather than from external wiring.
On the legal front, the Railways is pushing back against local media reports suggesting the parking shed lacked municipal approval. They clarified that under the Indian Railways Act and the Government Buildings Act, they aren't required to seek permission from the Thrissur Corporation for structures on their own land. They also added that despite public outcry, they have not yet received official notice or dispute from the city council regarding the said building.
For affected car owners, a help desk has also been established at the scene. For car owners whose vehicles were engulfed in the fire, a help desk has been erected at the scene to aid car owners with any insurance issues. Meanwhile, a case has also been filed with the local police to unravel any potential criminal activity that led to the rapid fire spread. An internal railway department is investigating the matter.
Also read: Fire guts hundreds of two-wheelers at Thrissur railway station
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