Chennai. A massive fire broke out on the second floor of an office of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) located opposite Madurai Railway Junction on Wednesday evening. The fire caused chaos in the busy commercial area and a massive relief and rescue operation had to be carried out. According to preliminary information, the fire was reported around 8.40 pm, after which firefighters from Thideer Nagar Fire Station immediately reached the spot. Thick smoke was seen billowing from the building, forcing firefighters to act quickly to stop the fire from spreading. According to sources, at least 12 fire and rescue units were deployed to douse the fire. Firefighters brought the fire under control after several hours of hard work. Given the intensity of the fire and the building being located in a crowded area, several water tankers and special rescue equipment were used.
Madurai District Fire Officer T. Venkata Ramanan said four water tankers were called from Thidir Nagar (near Periyar bus stand), Tallakulam and Anupanadi fire stations. Along with extinguishing the fire, firefighters also focused on preventing damage to nearby buildings and ensuring the safety of local people and pedestrians.
During the incident, a female employee of the LIC office was found trapped inside the building, who was rescued safely by the fire fighters. He has been admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai for treatment. Another employee also sustained burn injuries and is undergoing treatment. A police team from Thilagar Thidal police station also reached the spot and inspected the affected area. Officials have started investigating the cause of the fire.
In the initial assessment, the cause of the fire is being said to be short circuit, however this will be confirmed only after detailed technical investigation. Due to the fire, traffic near the railway junction was temporarily disrupted as fire engines and emergency vehicles were parked on the road. The administration has advised offices and commercial establishments in the area to strictly follow fire safety rules and get regular checks of electrical systems done, so that such incidents can be avoided in future. –
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