By: Smitha George
Vellimadukunnu,Kozhikode: Newly consecrated Holy Redeemer church in Vellimadukunnu near Kozhikode has suffered extensive damage following a fire that broke out on Thursday, Oct 5 night.
Locals informed the fire force after they noticed fire blazing through the ground floor of the church. It is thought that the fire started in the prayer hall near the main entrance .
Firemen initially struggled to get into the compound as the church premises were locked. They eventually got in and managed to stop the fire spreading to the top floor of the church thus averting a major disaster.
Statues, decorative stained glass windows, closed circuit televisions , LCD screens are among those destroyed by the fire. Students from nearby hostels, priests and nuns joined the locals in putting the fire out.
Although it is speculated that the fire may have spread from candles in the prayer hall, church authorities will examine video footage from Thursday night to ascertain the reason.
The beautiful church with lot of art works and painting inside was consecrated on April 19, 2017. The church had made history when George Sebastian Kizhakkeyil , a businessman gifted 100-million rupees towards building a church for Latin parishioners.