Fire breaks out at TN Secretariat on Monday

Chennai: A fire broke out at the Secretariat on Monday but it was immediately extinguished, officials said.

The fire broke out following a suspected short circuit in the AC unit of the information department, fire and rescue department officials said, adding, there were no casualties nor any major damage to property.

Government officials said it was a minor fire which was put out immediately and there was no need for any concern.

Government officials said it was a minor fire which was put out immediately and there was no need for any concern.

Six fire tenders were pressed into service to douse the blaze, officials added.

IBN Live 22 Sep 14

Fire at Humayun Mahal building

Chennai: In a second incident in two weeks involving a heritage structure, fire broke out in the 246-year-old Humayun Mahal, part of the Indo-Saracenic Chepauk palace, near Triplicane, on Saturday, ravaging portions of it.

The building was used by the department of agriculture until 2007, when they vacated, leaving behind machinery and paper waste. These are suspected to be the cause of the fire.
According to the TN fire and rescue services (TNFRS), seven fire tenders were pressed into service and it took an hour to bring the fires under control.

Police sources said they suspect that some anti-social elements could have entered a room on the ground floor and lit a match that could have started the fire. The building, however, is not new to such incidents. In September last year, a 500 sq foot roof of the building, then used by the state women’s commission after the agriculture department vacated, caved in, much to the shock of the employees.

In another fire, on January 16, 2012, the Khalas Mahal, another part of Chepauk palace, was ravaged and it led to the death of a fireman. Recently, on July 12, a major fire broke out at the iconic State Bank of India building on Rajaji Salai, near Parry’s Corner.

DC CORRESPONDENT | July 27, 2014, 04.07 am IST

Part of Chepauk Palace Gutted

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  Fire service personnel putting out the fire that engulfed a portion Humayun Mahal (R), a part of Chepauk Palace, on Saturday | (R Satish Babu/EPS)

CHENNAI: A portion of the 150-year-old Humayun Mahal - part of the Chepauk Palace - was ravaged by fire that broke out on Saturday afternoon. The building was in disuse ever since the Department of Agriculture, which housed its Information Unit press there, vacated it in 2007.  While the department moved out, it left back some machinery and paper waste in the ground and the floor above.

Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) sources said the fire started around 12.15 pm and the distress call landed at the control at 12.29 pm. Two fire tenders from Triplicane, one each from Mylapore, Teynampet, Vepery, Egmore and Royapuram were pressed into the service. The fire was completely put out after 90 minutes. Since the agriculture department had already moved out, the building had no power supply, and so the short-circuit angle was ruled out. (Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services) TNFRS officials suspect that outside elements could have been using the structure for anti-social activities, including binge sessions without coming under the police radar.

“We suspect someone in an inebriated condition would have thrown a lit beedi or cigarette without stubbing it, triggering the fire,” the official said.

“We have asked the police to find out the actual cause of the fire. The damage was minimal since only the unused and unwanted machinery were stored in that building,” the official added.

On September 19, 2013, a 500 sq ft roof of a building once used by the Women’s Commission had collapsed. On January 16, 2012, Kalas Mahal was ravaged by the fire in which a fireman was also killed.

Express News Service

Published: 27th July 2014 07:33 AM