A fire broke out early on Thursday at the residence of a retired government chief medical officer in Adambakkam, claiming his wife’s life, and injuring him and their two children, the police said.
The fire occurred around 4 a.m. on the first floor of a three-storey apartment building on Second Main Road at Ramakrishna Nagar in Adambakkam.
Anand Pratap, 64, who had worked at Government Royapettah Hospital, lived in the house with his wife Sashi Bala, 58, and his children.
The family tried to escape, but the dense fumes trapped them inside. While Dr. Pratap, his son, and daughter ran to the bathroom, Sashi Bala tried to escape through the front door, but collapsed in the hall. The neighbours alerted the fire services and the police. Firefighters entered through the balcony and bathroom vent and rescued the doctor and his children. They were rushed to Government Royapettah Hospital in a critical condition. Sashi Bala was found dead inside the house, and her body was sent for a post-mortem examination.
Adambakkam police registered a case and are investigating. Preliminary findings suggest that an electrical short circuit in the living room caused the blaze.
Published – October 31, 2025 12:09 am IST
