Power units shut down as fire rages in coconut grove

RAMANATHAPURAM (TN): Two power units of the Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation, and four private power units at Vazhuthiyur in the district were shut down as a fire, fanned by strong winds, threatened to engulf it, officials said today.


Officials said the fire started from a coconut grove at Valanthurai and spread fast helped by strong winds around last mid-night. As it threatened to engulf the power generation units, which produced power using natural gas supplied by the Gas Authority of India Limited, they shut the plants early today.

All the six units had a capacity of around 99 MW each. It took several hours to put out the fire, officials said, adding the Navy's high power fire douser was helpful in controlling the fire.

Though the fire has been doused, embers and pieces of charcoal still continued to fly in different directions due to the strong wind.

Officials said more than 500 trees in the grove, including mango and palm trees, were destroyed, adding, such fire accidents were common during windy days.