It was a miraculous escape for four families living in an apartment complex in Virugambakkam after three cars and as many motorcycles were gutted in the building’s parking lot in the wee hours of Friday.
Families of Venkatesh, Shankar Narayanan, Ponnusamy and Sivaraman were fast asleep when a fire broke in the parking lot of AVM Avenue apartment complex around 2.15 am, police said.
Venkatesh’s wife Ramya, residing on the first floor, woke up to a foul burning smell. When she peeped out of the window, she saw thick smoke emanating from the ground floor.
Alarmed, she woke up Venkatesh and got out of the flat along with their two children.The couple immediately alerted their neighbours as the fire spread to the bedroom of Sivaraman, an
occupant in the ground flo-or, through an airconditioner vent. The residents joined hands to prevent the fire from spreading to other rooms in Sivaraman’s house.
A fire tender from Vadapalani and two others from neighbouring stations rushed to the spot. After a half-hour-long struggle, fire tenders managed to douse the blaze. Three cars and three bikes parked in the basement were gutted though rescuers managed to shift a two-wheeler and a car before they caug-
ht fire. Police suspect the air conditioner could have been the source of the fire, while residents claim it could have been caused by a petrol leak from a bike in the parking lot. The actual cause of the fire is yet to be known. Police have registered a case and are investigating.
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