Mild tension after fire in Purasawalkam complex

Around 4 pm, a short circuit problem with the air-conditioner in one of the retail outlets at Suntec City, a shopping complex, gutted three stores completely. Four other shops were partially damaged. Kishore Pal, owner of one of the shops, said, “The moment we saw the fire, we switched off the mains and informed the Fire and Rescue Services. Though the fire was quickly controlled three shops were completely destroyed and a few others partially.”

The complex had 30 shops out of which, 12 were on the ground floor. An official from Fire and Rescue Services said, “Two water lorries and a team of 10-12 people were sent. The fire was brought under control in 30 minutes.” 

Social Activist ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy, who filed a PIL on Friday at the Madras High Court, sought penal action against the Housing and Urban Development Department Secretary Dharmendra Pratap Yadav and Greater Chennai Corporation and Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), for allowing such building violations, visited the spot.