Fire in women’s hostel in Madurai claims lives of two teachers

Two teachers died of asphyxiation at a private women’s hostel near Periyar Bus Stand in Madurai city after a fire triggered by a refrigerator blast broke out in the two-storey building in the early hours of Thursday (September 12, 2024).

Two teachers died of asphyxiation at a private women’s hostel near Periyar Bus Stand in Madurai city after a fire triggered by a refrigerator blast broke out in the two-storey building in the early hours of Thursday (September 12, 2024).

The police identified the deceased as Parimala Soundari, 50, a teacher at the Government Middle School in Sholavandan, and Saranya, who taught at a private catering institute.

The police said the compressor of a mini refrigerator inside Visaka Women’s Hostel at Katrapalayam exploded at around 4.30 a.m.

The hostel was functioning on the first and second floors of an old building in a narrow street.

The blast woke up the inmates, and chaos prevailed as thick black smoke filled the building.

While some of the women managed to escape by climbing down the narrow but steep flight of steps, others were stranded in the darkness.

Fire and rescue personnel from the Madurai Fire Station rushed to the spot, put out the flames, and rescued the stranded women from the first and second floors of the building.