Fire fighters are battling continuously for more than 12 hours to put down the fire. The fire and rescue service personnel received the fire call at 8.30 pm on Wednesday. Immediately, the fire tenders were diverted to put down the fire.
As the commercial complex is located in a narrow 20 feet lane in Parrys, the fire tenders and the fire personnel struggled to reach the place. The complex was locked and there was no one except a security guard due to Diwali. Otherwise, many people may have trapped inside the building, police said.
Also, Chennai city witnessed heavy down pour since last evening and this hampered the rescue operation.
Thousands of wholesale shops are located on Devaraja Mudali Street. Fire personnel have successfully prevented the fire to spread to adjacent buildings. The commercial complex is housing at least 25 more wholesale and retail shops including textile, stationary and other shops.
One of the security guard noticed the smoke bellowed out of the building and alerted the police and the fire personnel on Wednesday night. "As the shops dumped all its belongings inside the small shops, it was very difficult for us to rescue the goods. The building didn't adhere to the fire safety norms prescribed by us," a senior fire officer at the fire scene told TOI.
Police suspect the fire may have caused due to an electrical short circuit or due to rocket cracker which fell on the building. "After the fire was put down, the TNEB officials and the fire personnel will inspect the building to know the cause of the fire," a police officer said.
Fire personnel are ascertaining the loss. At least few crores worth valuables may have damaged in the fire accident, police said. Nearly 50 fire personnel are working at the fire spot since last night. More than 10 fire tenders and 30 metro tankers were pressed into the service to bring the fire under the control.
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