A major fire destroyed about 80 percent of a footwear factory in Malappuram, Kerala, on Friday. The blaze, which began around 11:50 am, severely damaged the manufacturing unit, raw material storage, and godown. Over 10 fire tenders responded, bringing the fire under control by 3 pm. Officials suspect an electrical short circuit may have caused the fire, with the exact cause pending investigation by the electrical inspectorate and police. Precautionary measures were taken to prevent the spread to nearby homes.