Kochi : Officials of the department of electrical inspectorate visited Koder House in Fort Kochi on Wednesday and collected samples of electrical equipment to determine the cause of the fire that gutted the 300-year-old heritage mansion.
No casualties were reported.
Deputy chief electrical inspector K T Santhosh said the officials conducted an initial assessment at the site. “The fire could have either originated outside and spread to the wires, or due to a short circuit in the wires,” he said. Santhosh said the functioning of the devices installed to protect the circuit would be examined to determine whether an electrical fault could have caused the fire. “If the protection in the electrical circuit is working, it is unlikely to be a short circuit,” he said. The official said the police department had sought a report from them. “Officials will also record statements from the people who were present in the building when the fire broke out on Tuesday evening,” Santhosh said.
Fire and rescue services units from across Ernakulam, along with Navy and Coast Guard, were deployed to contain the blaze. Guests, including foreign nationals staying at the building, were evacuated.
The report will be submitted after the assessment is completed and will also be placed before the chief electrical inspector.