KOLLAM:  Six shops were gutted in a blaze that broke out near Post Office Junction at Punalur around 2 am on Thursday. It took around three-and-a-half hours to put out the fire and a Fire and Rescue Services personnel suffered injuries in the process. Fire engines from Kottarakkara, Pathanapuram, and Kadakkal were deployed along with two units from Punalur station. 12 tanks of water were used to douse the fire, said P Sasidharan, an officer from the Punalur fire station. While two small jewellery shops, a textile shop and a fancy store were reduced to ashes, a footwear shop was partially destroyed. The cause of the fire is assumed to be short circuit, though it is not yet confirmed. “A witness said the fire broke out at a shop in the middle. The total loss is estimated to be around Rs 20 lakh,” Sasidharan said.