Elderly couple killed in Valasaravakkam fire

Chennai: A fire at a bungalow in Valasaravakkam claimed the lives of an elderly couple on Sunday afternoon. Their grandson and maid jumped from the first floor to escape the blaze. The fire broke out at a G+2 (three-storey) bungalow on fourth street, Savithri Nagar, Valasaravakkam, where Natarajan, 78, a retired lawyer, lived with his wife Thangam, 73, who was bedridden due to health issues. His son Sriram, 50, an auditor, his wife Shyamala (43), and their children — Saravanan, 18, a Class 12 student, and Shreya also lived in the same house.

On Sunday morning, Sriram, Shyamala, and Shreya had gone to Adyar, leaving the elderly couple, Saravanan, and a domestic help Saraswathi at home. All four of them were in different rooms on the first floor.

Around noon, a fire started on the ground floor and quickly spread to the upper floors. Saravanan, who sensed the fire and opened a door, was shocked to see flames engulfing the house. Amid the smoke, he was unable to rescue his grandparents, but managed to locate Saraswathi. With no escape route, Saravanan and Saraswathi jumped from the balcony on the first floor, police said.

Saraswathi suffered fractures and cried out in pain, drawing the attention of neighbours, who alerted the fire services. Firefighters from Ramapuram and Virugambakkam rushed to the scene, and additional units from Kilpauk and Poonamallee were also deployed due to the intensity of the blaze. Despite the heavy rain that followed, firemen battled the flames for more than an hour.

Saraswathi was taken to hospital for treatment, while Saravanan escaped unhurt.