Fire destroys old files and documents kept in file room of Puzhal prison

Puzhal prison officials investigate fire accident that destroyed old files and cardboard boxes, possibly caused by prisoners.

A fire accident destroyed old files and cardboard boxes kept in the Puzhal prison on Wednesday. Prison officials are investigating the cause of the accident. 

A senior official of the Puzhal prison said that old papers and documents were being destroyed two days ago by setting them afire within the prison premises 1. After destroying the old files, the prison officials failed to douse the embers of the fire completely which resulted in the fire spreading into the file room on Wednesday where new cardboard boxes and old files were stored. 

Fire tenders along with Fire and Rescue Services personnel from Red Hills and Madhavaram were deployed to douse the fire. After a two-hour-long struggle, the fire was put off. As per the initial investigation carried out, the prison wardens had failed to notice the fire burning when they undertook patrolling of the premises in the morning. Besides, some of the prisoners who were put to work two days ago for destroying the old files could have started the fire, the prison official added.