Chennai: A fire broke out in a branch of the Syndicate Bank in the Pammal area of Pallavaram in the early hours of Wednesday, in which many files and computer systems inside the bank were damaged. No injuries were reported, said fire department officials.
A fire official said that a call was received regarding the blaze at 3.30 am after which two fire tenders from Tambaram fire station and the state fire and rescue training station from Sanitorium were pressed into service. The official said they managed to bring the fire under control within an hour and a half. The cause of the fire is being investigated but prima facie, it seems to have erupted due to a short circuit.
According to sources, the watchman on duty noted black smoke emanating from Syndicate bank located at Krishna Nagar on Pallavaram-Kundrathu road. He informed the nearby police station and the fire station. Police personnel from Shankar Nagar station arrived at the spot. Furniture, computers and other items were gutted. Property worth `25 lakh has been reportedly gutted in the fire, including four air conditioners, three computers and important documents kept in the bank. However, sources said that the lockers were intact. Fire personnel prevented the fire from spreading to the strong room where cash and gold are kept.
Luckily, no one was inside the bank as it was shut at night and consequently, no injuries were reported. The fire was extinguished in two hours. Shankar Nagar police registered a case and are looking into the exact cause of the fire. Officials said that the bank will remain shut until the investigation is completed.
