Faulty AC unit causes fire in railway office near Central

As the fire broke out around 8.30 am, before working hours, due to which none were injured. Sources said RPF personnel noticed smoke emanating from the fourth floor of the seven-storeyed building and immediately alerted Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS). 

Five fire tenders from Vepery, Esplanade, High Court and Washermanpet and a skylift from Egmore reached the spot around 9 am and put out the fire completely by 11 am. However, the rooms and the equipment inside were gutted by then. District fire officer Saravanan inspected the building after the fire was brought under control. 

After the preliminary investigation, police said that a short circuit could have sparked the fire, as one of the AC units was not turned off on Monday night. The fire broke out at the office of Divisional Finance Manager (I) Manikandan, and spread to another financial manager Suresh’s room as well as to another cabin where the documents were kept. Despite being a government building, sources said it lacked fire safety measures and facilities to put out the fire. 

However, a statement from railway later in the day claimed the fire extinguishers in the building were also used to douse the fire. Flower Bazaar police have registered a case and are  investigating. Meanwhile, the railway statement said that an officer level enquiry has been ordered to investigate the cause of the fire. Damage was restricted to a small area on the fourth floor, mainly a few computer terminals, it added.