Kozhikode: A major fire broke out inside the city's famed business hub Mittayi Theravu Wednesday night, gutting at least 20 shops and damaging several others but there was no report of any casualty.
The fire, which broke out at around 9.45 p.m, started from a textile shop, Beauty Stores near the Koyenco Bazaar and spread to neighbouring shops in the commercial street.
At least 12 fire tenders, including those from neighbouring districts of Kannur and Malappuram and Karipur airport, were engaged in to bring the blaze under control.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said all attempts were being made to douse the blaze. There was no report of any casualty, he said.
"Short circuit is believed to have caused the fire," he said.
'Mittai Theravu', also known as sweet meat street, is a commercial hub of Kozhikode and houses several shops-- both big and small-- lined up on both sides of the narrow street, considered the busiest in Kozhikode in north Kerala.
Known as 'Street of Sweets' in the old times, the heritage street is lined up with several sweet stalls, textile shops and various other shops selling sundry articles.
Six persons were killed and 50 injured when a cracker shop caught fire at Mittayi Theravu in April 2007.