About 40% of the ornaments and gold inside a safety locker under the debris of the fire-ravaged Chennai Silks building was retrieved by the management on Tuesday.
A spokesperson of Chennai Silks told The Hindu that some of it had melted. A major portion is yet to be retrieved.
On May 31, a major fire broke out in the seven-storeyed building, which housed Chennai Silks and Sri Kumaran Thangamaligai, on Usman Road. The next day, a major portion of the building collapsed and authorities decided to demolish the unauthorised building. On June 2, a private contractor began the demolition using a jaw-cutter and an earth mover. Even as the work was progressing, another portion collapsed and the lives of residents and shopkeepers was affected in the area.
Dress material and silver articles worth several crores were gutted in fire. The safety locker in the basement had jewellery and gold weighing 400 kg and diamonds worth ₹20 crore. The owners of Chennai Silks and Sri Kumaran Thangamaligai were hoping to retrieve the gold and other valuables since the locker was designed to withstand any natural calamity or major fire.
After the removal of the debris on Tuesday, the private contractor cut open the locker with a gas cutter. Later, staff of the showroom entered and retrieved the gold and ornaments in the presence of the owners and officials of an insurance company. Armed police personnel provided security.
