Thu Mar 20 17:50:37 UTC 2025: ## Ranipet Cotton Godown Destroyed in Early Morning Fire
**RANIPET, March 20, 2025** – A major fire ravaged a cotton godown in Ammananthangal village near Walajah town on Thursday, resulting in the complete destruction of the facility and its contents. The fire, which broke out around 4:00 AM, destroyed an estimated Rs 15 lakh worth of cotton rolls, waste cloth, and machinery.
K. Sivagopal, the 56-year-old owner, discovered the fire during his routine patrol and attempted to extinguish it with the help of neighbors. However, the blaze quickly spread throughout the 2,300 sq. ft. godown before firefighters from Ranipet SIPCOT and Arcot arrived. Firefighters worked for nearly two hours to bring the fire under control.
While Sivagopal escaped unharmed, the incident caused severe eye irritation among residents, particularly children and the elderly, due to the thick smoke. Walajah police have registered a case and are investigating the cause of the fire, with initial suspicions pointing towards an electrical short circuit in the main electrical board.
First Piper 