Divisional Fire Officer Priya Ravichandran, who braved the inferno on the Ezhilagam Campus in Chepauk on January 16, received the President’s Award for gallantry. Two others, Station Officer R Murugan and Leading Fireman K Anbalagan, were also conferred with the gallantry awards.
Anbalagan was killed on the spot when the roof of the building which was on fire collapsed. Priya rushed to the spot and supervised the operation to douse the fire. With the assistance of a crew comprising Murugan, Anbazhagan and V Prabhakaran, she entered the premises unmindful of her own life.
Murugan was directly recruited as Station Officer in 2004, while Anbazhagan joined the service in 1982. Six others had been conferred with the Fire Service Medal for meritorious service.