A fire at the Express Avenue Mall in Royapettah on Friday morning caused panic among visitors and employees, who rushed out as thick smoke filled parts of the building. The popular mall, located off Anna Salai and sprawling across nearly 9 lakh sq ft, houses hundreds of retail outlets, an eight-screen PVR multiplex, Fun City play zone, a 50,000-sq-ft dining area, multiple offices, and three levels of parking. With thousands visiting daily, the incident created significant alarm.
EA Mall Fire
According to officials, the blaze began in the electrical control room on the first floor around 8:30 am. Security staff spotted smoke and alerted the fire control room immediately. As the smoke intensified, shoppers and employees evacuated the premises, with many gathering on the roadside outside.
Breaking: a fire in EA mall has shut shops and all establishments pic.twitter.com/zZ3tyjqjuc
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Three fire tenders from Egmore and nearby stations were deployed promptly. By the time firefighters reached the mall, staff had already put out the flames, but dense smoke continued to linger in several areas. Fire personnel worked for nearly an hour to ventilate the building, disperse the smoke, and ensure the premises were safe.
Authorities confirmed there were no injuries or significant property damage. Preliminary investigations point to a possible short circuit as the cause, though a detailed inspection is underway.
The incident has renewed concerns about fire safety preparedness in major commercial hubs, particularly those that draw large daily footfalls.