The day after a major fire gutted the heritage structure of SBI main branch on Rajaji Salai, the bank officials on Sunday sought to allay the fears of customers stating that the cash and jewellery at the building were safe.
Throughout the day, bank officials were engaged in removing files, computers and other office paraphernalia from the gutted building, which has been sealed.
The bank had made arrangements by posting officials at the entrance with ‘May I help you’ board to ensure that customers do not panic.
A senior official of the bank said the Chennai headquarters, the Rajaji Salai branch and the small medium enterprises branch were operating from the building.
Assuring customers that cash and jewelleries were safe, the official said the three branches were proposed to be relocated to nearby branches and would start functioning from Monday.
According to an official of the Fire and Rescue Service, the fire that originated on the first floor of the two-storey building resulted in the two floors caving in and the ground floor getting weakened.
Though the fire was brought under control on Saturday night, the fire services official said that since the roof of the old building was constructed with wood, they had to constantly spray water to keep out embers.
The city police have cordoned off the bank premises by posting a posse of police personnel.
