A sudden fire broke out at the Bank of India branch located on Velachery Main Road in the Dhandeeswaram area of Chennai on Friday afternoon. The incident led to significant smoke in the vicinity, causing concern among local residents and businesses.The fire, which started near an ATM, resulted in thick smoke filling the area for over an hour. Given the proximity of numerous houses and commercial establishments, police quickly arrived on the scene to manage the situation and ensure public safety.
Emergency services were immediately notified, and three fire tenders from Thiruvanmiyur, Guindy, and Ashok Nagar fire stations responded promptly. Firefighters are currently working to pinpoint the exact location within the bank that has caught fire.
Reports from the scene indicate that people in the vicinity are experiencing eye irritation and suffocation due to the heavy smoke emission. Authorities have advised residents and business owners to stay indoors and keep windows and doors closed to minimize exposure to the smoke.
Efforts to control and extinguish the fire are ongoing, and the cause of the fire is yet to be determined. No injuries have been reported so far, and the extent of the damage to the bank and its surroundings is still being assessed.
The fire department has urged the public to avoid the area to allow emergency services to operate effectively.