The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Woman killed in fire accident

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 22, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Woman killed in fire accident

Staff Reporter

She was employed in chemical unit in Tambaram

BATTLING THE FLAMES: Firemen putting out a fire in a chemical manufacturing unit on Kamarajar Street, West Tambaram on Friday. — Photo: A. Muralitharan.

TAMBARAM : A 35-year-old woman died in a fire accident that broke out on Friday in a chemical manufacturing-cum-selling unit on Kamarajar Street, West Tambaram.

The victim, an employee of the unit, was identified as Fathima Mary, a mother of five.

The fire broke out around noon. Though the exact cause of the fire is under investigation, firemen and police suspect that it might have been caused when the employees were performing their weekly pooja.

As the flames consumed the chemicals and other substances stored in small shop— 15ft x 15 ft — panic gripped the area and neighbouring shops downed shutters.

For about 15 minutes, neighbours and shopkeepers, including AIADMK Tambaram Town secretary T.K.M. Chinnaiah and his partymen, who were on electioneering work, flung sand and sprayed water to douse the flames.

But their efforts proved futile. A relative of the owner of Jai Trading Agencies, where the fire broke out, said four employees were on duty — Murugan, Selvaraj, Fathima and Velmurugan. When the fire broke out, the three men rushed out, but there was no information about the women employee.

A fire tender from Tambaram Fire Station and another from the Indian Air Force Station, Tambaram, fought the blaze for over an hour.

As several cans of chemicals and inflammable substances were around, the firemen found it difficult and used both water and foam fight the flames. They were able to retrieve the charred body of Fathima later. The shop-owner, Jayaraj and other employees were nowhere to be seen.

Fire Service personnel said there was no fire fighting material around in the shop, though hazardous chemicals were stored.

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