Kannur, Jan. 29 -- A plywood manufacturing unit in Keriad in Chirakkal in Kerala's Kannur district was gutted on Thursday in a major fire, police said.

The incident occurred this morning at the Century Plywood manufacturing company.

Raw materials, machinery, and the building were completely destroyed in the fire.

Seven units of the Fire and Rescue Services from Kannur, Taliparamba, and Thalassery were rushed to the spot and the blaze was extinguished after hours of intense effort, Pavithran PV, Station Officer of the Kannur fire force department said.

There were no workers present in the factory during the time of the incident, the official said who added that a preliminary assessment suggested that the fire may have started from wast...