YMCA fire: Inmates salvage personal belongings

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Women were seen trying to salvage what they could from the gutted rooms at the YWCA Hostel late Friday night.They were seen hauling out bags, laptops, books and clothes out of the charred remains of the room.The YWCA building at Statue is situated in a congested area and fire officials said that if the fire had spread, it could have led to a major disaster. The Fire Force Control Room said that the loss was yet to be estimated.  The capital city has witnessed a spate of fires since November last. On November 21, the city witnessed one of the biggest mishaps in recent years when five shops on the congested Valiyasala succumbed to the blaze. Barely a month later, on December 11, a private catering and decorations shop at Thycaud was gutted in a fire. Two days later, smoke from a fourth-floor apartment of a flat at Vellayambalam triggered panic. On December 19, a  Kerala State Beverages Corporation godown at Pappanamcode was gutted.