Firefighters engaged in putting out the flames in a commercial building in Thoothukudi on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: N. RAJESH
A major fire broke out in a three-storey commercial building near the Collectorate here on Sunday.
The building houses a two-wheeler service centre, a motorcycle showroom and the finance company of a private sector bank.
According to police, the fire broke out at the building located on Thoothukudi-Palayamkottai Road around 9:30 a.m. It quickly spread after oil and other inflammable materials kept in the service area caught fire. The flames subsequently spread to the motorcycle showroom and finance company, eventually engulfing the entire building.
The police suspect that fire could have originated in the bushes behind the commercial complex and spread to the building. However, the exact cause of the fire could be ascertained only after investigation, they said.
Around eight fire tenders were involved in the firefighting operation and the fire was brought under control around 12:30 p.m.
Police said many motorcycles, including vehicles kept at the service centre and new motorcycles at the showroom, were reportedly destroyed in the fire. Documents and other materials of the finance company were also damaged. Further investigation is on.
Published – August 16, 2026 06:26 pm IST
