One of the high risk zones on SM Street in Kozhikode which lacks effective fire prevention measures. | Photo credit: K. Ragesh
The second fire outbreak at a large textile store in the busy Palayam area within a short span of time has intensified calls for a comprehensive fire safety audit of commercial buildings in the Kozhikode district.
Rescuers say the latest incident, although brought under control with no casualties on Tuesday, once again exposed glaring gaps in fire preparedness in high-density commercial zones.
With more than 160 fires in the district in the last one-and-a-half months, there are growing concerns about the effectiveness of existing safety mechanisms in several commercial zones. Three major fires last year — including a massive blaze at a mofussil bus stand and another at a battery backup unit at Kozhikode Medical College — also hint at alleged continued negligence in the sector.
“Just a spot intervention by firemen saved a multi-storied textile building on Tuesday. A second incident in the same building is of grave concern and remedial measures will be seriously looked into,” said a senior official of the Fire and Rescue Service. He added that the incident was resolved in time due to access to the affected building.
Building safety experts and engineers point out that the requirement for a district-wide audit covering high-rise buildings, hospitals and commercial facilities has gone unaddressed for a long time, without concern for public safety. The state government’s recent decision to extend fire safety certificates to five years is another problem amid pending fire safety audit initiatives, they say.
“The Disaster Management Authority has a key role to play in this area as it can easily detect those who flout without safety norms. At least vulnerable areas and prime spots should be audited,” says V. Manoj, a former building inspector. He points out that illegal regularization of defective buildings should be suspended with immediate effect as it may worsen the situation.
A comprehensive fire audit carried out four years ago revealed serious breaches by commercial building owners in prime locations. During the audit, violations of safety rules were found in approximately 140 buildings. Of the identified objects, 107 were multi-storey complexes. Vulnerable structures were identified after an inspection of more than 300 buildings. The offense report has also been submitted to the disaster management authority for further action.
In an inspection held later, the Kozhikode Corporation confirmed the presence of nearly 3,000 unauthorized structures. Although many of these projects were legalized after the safety issues were resolved, some builders were found to be delaying the procedures due to technical issues. Sources said there was no follow-up to review the remedial measures taken by the owners of such buildings.
Published – 18 Feb 2026 19:24 IST