Another fire station shut after cement slabs collapse, none hurt

NAGAPATTINAM: Following the collapse and consequent sealing of  a fire service station in Nagapattinam last month, another fire station in Thirumarugal in the district was shut as the cement slabs fell from the ceiling of the building on Saturday. The cave-in took place at around 6.30 am in the station officer’s chamber.

Speaking to Express, a firefighter said, “ The building was built 35 years ago and it is now dilapidated. A fire service vehicle and four fire-tenders belong to this station. As Thirumarugal received heavy rain on Friday night, the slabs weakened and fell. “The slabs weighed 3 kg. Fortunately, the station officer had stepped out for brushing his teeth, when the slabs fell.”

On being informed, block-level officials of Thirumarugal reached the scene with  engineers to check on the stability of the building. Since they found the building in bad shape, they informed the district administration and Collector ordered the sealing of the fire station building. The fire-fighting equipment and fire-tenders were shifted to Thirumarugal panchayat union office temporarily on in the afternoon.

It may be recalled that cement slabs and the wooden objects of Nagapattinam fire service station had fallen down from the roof of the 71-year-old building on October 21. O S Manian, Minister for Textiles and Handlooms, who inspected the building on October 28 ordered he officials to seal the dilapidated building.
Even after shifting the fire station to the Panchayat union office of Nagapattinam block, one portion of that closed building caved in on October 31 after heavy rains pounded Nagapattinam.