Tension gripped Keezhvelur in Nagapattinam district on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, as a fire broke out in a storage room adjacent to a Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) outlet. The blaze caused damage to cardboard cartons and empty liquor bottles stored on the premises.
The incident occurred near TASMAC shop number 643, located in Vadakkuveli, Keezhvelur. The adjoining room, used for storage, became engulfed in flames, raising concerns among local residents and authorities. Firefighting teams were promptly dispatched to the scene to control the fire and prevent it from spreading to the TASMAC outlet or nearby structures.
Details regarding the cause of the fire are still under investigation. Fire officials are working to ascertain the origin of the blaze, with preliminary assessments suggesting it may have started due to an unknown reason within the storage room itself. The extent of the damage is being evaluated by authorities.
This incident is not the first of its kind involving TASMAC outlets in the region. In previous years, several TASMAC shops in Nagapattinam district have been targeted by miscreants or have experienced fire incidents. In July 2016, a TASMAC outlet in Thalainayar faced a similar situation where unidentified individuals set fire to the shop, resulting in damage to liquor cases valued at approximately Rs. 12 lakh. Cash amounting to over Rs. 36,000 was also reported missing in that incident. In another case from May 2016, a TASMAC shop at Vizhunthamavadi near Velankanni was partially burnt, with liquor bottles worth Rs. 14 lakh destroyed, and cash amounting to Rs. 1.5 lakh lost.
The recurring nature of such incidents raises questions about security measures at TASMAC outlets and the storage facilities associated with them. While the current fire is being investigated for its cause, the history of such events in the district underscores a pattern that authorities are likely to review. The prompt response of the fire department in the recent incident helped in averting a larger disaster, ensuring that the fire was contained to the storage area and did not escalate into a major conflagration affecting the retail outlet or surrounding properties.
The police have initiated an investigation into the fire incident. They are examining all possible angles to determine the cause, including accidental causes and potential foul play. The proximity of the fire to a TASMAC outlet has led to heightened scrutiny, given the previous instances of arson or suspicious fires at similar establishments in the district.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
