The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Fire destroys 120 sheds near Vandalur

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jun 10, 2007
ePaper

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Fire destroys 120 sheds near Vandalur

Staff Reporter

They housed workers at a construction site of Tamil Nadu Police Academy

DEVOURED BY FLAMES: The scene at a construction site in Unamanchery village near Vandalur where a fire destroyed temporary sheds for the workers on Saturday. — Photo: A. Muralitharan

TAMBARAM: Temporary sheds put up to accommodate workers at a construction site of the Tamil Nadu Police Academy at Unamanchery near Vandalur were destroyed in a fire on Saturday.

No one was injured, but the 120 sheds were completely gutted.

The fire broke out at 11.45 a.m. in one of the sheds at the southern end. As the sheds had thatched roofs, it spread fast and destroyed the cluster. Firemen at Tambaram said they rushed two fire tenders. A third vehicle from Maraimalai Nagar was pressed into service and the fire was put out.

Kitchen flame

Firemen ruled out electrical short circuit as the cause, as power supply was given to the workers' sheds only between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. They suspect that flames from a kitchen in one of the sheds caused the fire.

Officials said arrangements have been made to provide food and alternative shelter to those affected by the fire. About 700 people are working at the construction site, where the Tamil Nadu Police Housing Corporation is building the Academy on 129 acres. Close to 200 temporary sheds have been built to accommodate workers, many of who are from Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. Work on the Rs 31.20 crore project began in December 2005 and is scheduled for completion by September. On completion, it could accommodate 400 trainee sub-inspectors and 60 trainee Deputy Superintendents of Police.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu