IIT security staff help in putting out the fire on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: R. Sivaraman more-in A fire broke out in the rocket and missiles laboratory of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras on Tuesday morning. Explosives, propellants and equipment were gutted in the fire. Some construction labourers and private security personnel noticed the fire around 7.45 a.m. and alerted the IIT security staff. Construction worker A. Silambarasan, said, “While working, we heard a loud blast. We found thick smoke billowing from the first floor of the laboratory. Fire engulfed the building and there were three more blasts.” IIT security staff and students tried to put out the fire. Fire tenders from Guindy and Kotturpuram were pressed into service. The cause of fire was not immediately known. The quantum of damage is yet to be ascertained. The lab was closed and no researcher was allowed inside. Police were not able to ascertain immediately the cause of fire, as staff refused to talk to them. The lab is located few yards away from the sprawling Raj Bhavan campus.

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