NE NEWS BUREAU
CHENNAI, MAY 15
Panic gripped Chennai’s bustling Information Technology corridor on Friday after a massive fire broke out inside the campus of Tech Mahindra near ELCOT IT Park in the Sholinganallur-Karapakkam stretch of Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR).
Big fire accident at Tech Mahindra's Campus in Sholinganallur ELCOT. Praying for everyone's safety…😷 pic.twitter.com/Bw87f24grG
— Chennai Updates (@UpdatesChennai) May 15, 2026
Huge plumes of thick black smoke billowing into the sky from the IT campus triggered alarm among office-goers, residents and commuters across the area, with dramatic visuals of the blaze quickly spreading across social media platforms.
- Major fire breaks out at Tech Mahindra campus near ELCOT IT Park on Friday afternoon
- Employees evacuated safely as thick smoke spreads across Chennai’s bustling OMR IT corridor
- Fire and Rescue Services rush multiple tenders to contain blaze reportedly triggered inside warehouse/electrical section
- Traffic disruptions and panic reported across Karapakkam-Sholinganallur stretch amid ongoing firefighting operations
- Officials say no casualties reported so far; investigation launched into exact cause of fire
According to preliminary information, the fire reportedly broke out on Friday afternoon inside a warehouse or electrical storage section within the Tech Mahindra premises located in the ELCOT SEZ zone.
Employees Rushed Out Amid Panic
As the fire intensified, employees inside the building were immediately evacuated as a precautionary measure. Fire and Rescue Services personnel rushed multiple fire tenders to the spot and launched intensive firefighting operations to prevent the flames from spreading to nearby structures in the densely occupied IT corridor.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion and tension as smoke engulfed parts of the campus and surrounding roads.
“Suddenly thick smoke started rising from inside the campus. Employees were seen rushing out quickly. The smoke was visible from several kilometres away,” said a commuter travelling through the OMR stretch.
Social media users and employees working nearby reported that the blaze appeared to originate from a warehouse-like structure inside the campus. Some online posts claimed the fire may have started in an electrical or scrap storage section, though officials are yet to confirm the exact cause.
Officials Monitoring Situation Closely
Fire officials said emergency response teams acted swiftly after receiving alerts from the campus.
“Employees were evacuated immediately and firefighting operations are underway. The priority is to fully contain the blaze and ensure there is no risk to adjacent buildings,” a senior Fire and Rescue Services official said.
Police and emergency personnel also cordoned off sections of the area to facilitate rescue and firefighting efforts.
As of Friday evening, no casualties or serious injuries had been officially reported. Authorities, however, said a detailed assessment of damages would be conducted after the fire is completely extinguished.
OMR Traffic Hit, Residents Alarmed
The incident triggered heavy traffic congestion across parts of Sholinganallur, Karapakkam and nearby OMR stretches as emergency vehicles moved into the area and curious onlookers gathered near the site.
Several nearby office-goers reported temporary disruption in operations, while residents living close to the IT corridor expressed concern over the dense smoke spreading across the locality.
The Sholinganallur ELCOT IT Park corridor remains one of Tamil Nadu’s largest technology hubs, housing thousands of IT employees and major multinational firms across its sprawling SEZ campuses.
Probe Underway Into Cause Of Blaze
Officials said a detailed investigation would be launched to determine the precise cause of the fire, including whether electrical faults, overheating equipment or stored combustible materials triggered the incident.
Safety audits and emergency preparedness measures at large IT campuses are also expected to come under renewed scrutiny following the incident.
Further updates are awaited from fire authorities and the company management.
