Computers and documents were gutted in a fire that broke out in the accounts and audit section of the Southern Railway Chennai Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) office off Poonamalee High Road on Tuesday morning.
The section is on the fourth floor of the seven-storied building located behind the Southern Railway Headquarters on Poonamalee High Road.
Around 8.30 a.m, Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, who were out for a parade, spotted fumes coming out of the fourth floor of the building.
“The officers were dispersing after a parade when they spotted the smoke. Personnel at the RPF control room on the fifth floor also spotted the smoke and came down,” said a RPF officer.
Fire services alerted
They alerted the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services (TNFRS) control room at 8.50 a.m.
“Three fire tender vehicles and a skylift were rushed to the spot. A total of 28 firefighters were sent to douse the fire,” said a senior TNFRS officer.
The fire was put out by 9.30 a.m.
But the officers found that computers and documents were completely damaged. “The railway officials informed us that they are yet to ascertain the extent of damage and the documents that have been destroyed,” added the TNFRS officer.
Railway officials claimed only computers were destroyed in the fire.
