JOIN USThe seven-storied Chennai Silks building, which was ravaged by a major fire, will be razed down within three days after authorities found the stability of the structure was very weak.
Finance Minister D Jayakumar, who was monitoring the rescue operations, on Thursday said that after consulting with several experts including a technical team from Anna University and professors from Indian Institute of Technology, it was found that the Chennai Silks building was severely damaged due to fire and its stability is weak.
"Therefore, the work to raze down the remaining parts of the building will begin today. It will be completed within three days", Jayakumar said.
However, the minister said that the building will be demolished manually since it is located in a congested area.
"People's safety is more important. Therefore, special equipments will be used to demolish the building manually", Jayakumar said.
The fire in Chennai Silks, which broke on Wednesday morning, was dowsed only on Thursday morning with fire service personnel battled almost 30 hours to put off the flames.
Police said the owners of the Chennai Silks could not obtain permission to construct more than four floors. However, after getting a stay order from a court, they went on to construct seven floors.
Chennai Silks houses a jewellery showroom on the ground floor, textile varieties, garments and gift items in the remaining six floors.
Meanwhile, Urban Development Minister Udhumalai Radhakrishnan said that the government will demolish other buildings in busy areas, which have violated the regulations.