ATM gutted, cash safe

CHENNAI: An ATM centre of the Punjab National Bank on Lakshmana Sw-amy Salai in KK Nagar was gutted in a fire on Thursday noon. However, the cash chest containing more than Rs 3 lakh was safely retrieved by the Fire and Rescue Services Personnel. Police suspect that the fire may have been triggered due to an electrical short circuit in the air-conditioner unit.Three fire tenders from T Nagar and Ashok Nagar rushed to the spot after passers-by noticed smoke emanating from the room at 11.10 am. “We recovered the ATM chest and found the cash intact,” station fire officer (T Nagar) S Jagadeesh said. On information, KK Nagar police and the bank officials rushed to the spot.  Movement of traffic was affected as people gathered to watch the fire-fighting operation.