A massive fire broke out on Sunday morning at the motorcycle parking zone behind Thrissur Railway Station. The blaze started around 6 a.m. near the second platform and quickly destroyed around 500 parked motorcycles. Thick black smoke rose kilometers away causing panic. Firefighters from Thrissur and nearby areas rushed to control the fire. "The fire was doused within half an hour by mobilising and deploying fire tenders. Few two-wheelers burnt. No causality or injury," said a Southern Railway statement. The bike shed with an iron-sheet roof was completely gutted. Fire spread to a nearby large tree and a ticket counter was also destroyed. A stationary railway engine caught fire but was soon moved to safety. Police blocked nearby roads and cut electricity to protect residents. Two women working at the parking counter escaped safely by running out. "The fire started on two motorcycles and spread rapidly," said Mallika, a parking facility worker. Another commuter said the fire engulfed the area within minutes. Officials think sparks from overhead railway lines may have caused the fire but investigations are ongoing. Firefighters kept working for hours amid explosions from fuel tanks. Train services were not affected by the incident. The usual count of motorcycles parked here is near 1,000 but fewer were there as it was Sunday.