New auditorium gutted by fire before opening in Edakkara

A new auditorium in Edakkara was gutted by fire two days before its opening, with around 200 workers escaping unharmed. The building, owned by Kinattingal John Mathew, was set to host its first wedding on Sunday. A suspected short circuit caused the blaze, destroying the ceiling, tools and equipment. The estimated loss is around ₹1 crore, officials said.