A fire broke out at Powertex, a power-tools wholesale business operating from Fortune Tower in Ashoka Nagar on Kochi’s Kaloor-Elamakkara Road, with firefighters taking about an hour to bring the blaze under control.
The fire was reported at around 6.30 am, according to Kerala Kaumudi. Morning walkers noticed smoke rising from the commercial premises and alerted the fire and rescue services.
The business operates from the ground floor of Fortune Tower, which is divided into two levels. The fire and smoke were seen emerging from the upper level, where the ceiling was damaged. The report did not specify the cause of the fire.
A substantial quantity of goods had been stored on the lower level of the premises. Firefighters brought the blaze under control before it could spread to that section, limiting the reported impact within the commercial establishment.
Two units from the Gandhinagar fire station responded to the incident. Firefighters worked for approximately one hour to extinguish the fire, with station officer Suresh Kumar leading the operation.
The incident highlights the operational challenge posed by fires in commercial buildings where business premises are divided across levels and large quantities of equipment or stock are stored indoors. In this case, the early detection of smoke by people passing along the road led to the fire service being alerted before the flames spread further through the premises.
Power tools and related equipment can occupy significant storage space in wholesale outlets, making access and containment important during an emergency. The available report confirms damage to the ceiling and fire activity on the upper level, while the lower level’s stored goods were protected from the flames spreading.
The report did not provide details of injuries, casualties, the estimated value of the damage, or the cause of the fire. It also did not mention any disruption to traffic or other businesses along the Kaloor-Elamakkara Road.
The immediate response was completed by the two Gandhinagar fire station units after their approximately hour-long firefighting operation. Further details on the cause and extent of damage were not available in the supplied report.
