An e-Corner, a hi-tech banking centre with passbook opening facility, of State Bank of India in posh MVP Colony of Visakhapatnam was destroyed in a fire that broke out in the early hours of Sunday.
Preliminary estimates put the loss at over Rs.2 crore. The exact amount of cash which got burnt was being estimated. All the hardware, cash deposit machines, ATMs and Swatan—a hassle-free system to open passbook -- and update accounts were completely damaged in the fire. Short-circuit was said to be the cause of the fire at the e-Corner located near Laddu Gopal outlet, a bank spokesman said. SBI Deputy General Manager Ajoy Kumar Pandit was among the top officials who inspected the site of the mishap.
The owner of the building, N. Subrahmanyam Sastry, a purohit, and his wife, who were sleeping in the first floor of the two-floor building, got up when thick layer of smoke engulfed their house. He told The Hindu that they along with the security guard immediately alerted the police and fire personnel. A car of the owner, which was parked outside the building, was partially burnt. Inquiry is on.
Mr. Sastry was in trauma after he received a shock when he tried to switch off power supply. He said that they, with great difficulty, could retrieve some of their belongings and furniture.
