Madurai Hostel Fire: 2 Dead And 3 Injured Due To Fridge Explode

Two women died, and three others were injured in Madurai women's hostel fire near Periyar Bus Stand in the early hours of September 12. The incident has led to significant attention in the area and has caused a huge chaos.

What Caused The Fire?

In the early hours of September 12, a devastating fire broke out at Visaka Women’s Hostel in Katrapalayam near Periyar Bus Stand in Madurai. The blaze, which began around 4:30 a.m., was caused by the explosion of a refrigerator compressor. The fire caused extensive damage to the two-storey building, leading to two deaths and injuring three others.

Visaka Women’s Hostel, situated in Katrapalayam, is housed in an old, narrow building. The explosion from a mini refrigerator’s compressor filled the building with thick black smoke, causing panic among the residents. 

While some women managed to escape by navigating the narrow and steep staircases, others were trapped in the smoke-filled darkness.

Fire and rescue personnel from the Madurai Fire Station quickly responded, rescuing the women stranded on both floors.

Victims Identified:

The two deceased in the Women's hostel fire have been identified as Parimala Soundari, 50, a teacher at Government Middle School in Sholavandan, and Saranya, a teacher at a private catering institute.

Woman Hostel Building Issues:

The woman's hostel building had been issued a notice for demolition in October 2023 due to its deteriorated condition. However, the demolition order was stayed by the building owner, S. Dhinkaran. 

The hostel, which was running on the first and second floors of the building, had been rented out by Inba Jegadeesan, who was originally supposed to use the premises for a hospital. A legal dispute was ongoing regarding the tenant's use of the property.

Authorities, including Madurai Corporation Commissioner C. Dinesh Kumar and Revenue Divisional Officer R.D. Shalini, inspected the site on the morning of September 12. The Tideer Nagar police are conducting an investigation into the incident to decide any further responsibilities or violations.