Fire, smoke create panic in Guindy; no injuries, fatality

CHENNAI: Thick blanket of smoke engulfed the Guindy area on Friday afternoon due to a fire that broke out in a scrap dump yard triggering panic among residents and motorists. The incident happened at around 3:30 pm. After noticing smoke from a vacant area behind a star hotel, many motorists crossing the Kathipara junction called up the fire control room. Personnel from Fire and Rescue services from Guindy, Ashok Nagar and other areas rushed to the spot. It took them over an hour to put out the fire. It looks like old transformers were stacked in the vacant ground adjacent to the cluster of iron shops. It’s possible that someone had thrown a live matchstick on inflammable oil, which leaked and triggered the fire, noted fire control room.