The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : 500 huts gutted

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 23, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

500 huts gutted

By Our Staff Reporter

Burning huts at Srinivasapuram, Foreshore Estate, on Wednesday. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI, SEPT. 22. More than 500 huts were razed to the ground in a fire that broke out in a slum settlement at Srinivasapuram in Foreshore Estate this evening.

According to eyewitness, the ire broke out around 6.45 p.m. in one of the huts fringing the beach. Even as a fire tender rushed to the spot, the fire spread to other huts.

``The flames fanned by strong breeze spread to other residential clusters,'' said Joseph, a resident. In a few minutes an entire cluster of huts was burnt down.

But the residents were evacuated to safety. The cause of the fire and the amount of loss are yet to ascertained.

More than 20 water tankers were pressed into service in the fire-fighting operations that lasted over three hours.

Relief measures, including food and shelter, were arranged by the Chennai Corporation for the fire accident victims. The Corporation Commissioner, the Deputy Mayor, the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board chairman, the Ruling Party Leader in the Corporation Council and the civic agency's Zone X chairman visited the accident site and supervised relief work.

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