It was women who fell an easy prey to the flames that engulfed a four-storey commercial complex here on Thursday. Caught unawares, they had no other option but to give up their lives to the raging fire.
While most of the male employees escaped from the building immediately, the women were unable to climb down. Two of the women charred to death were employees of a stock marketing company operating on the third floor. The other two women, both sweepers, were caught in the fire that spread fast to the third floor.
Sree Lakshmi, an assistant manager with Sharekhan, was on the last day of work at the office on Thursday. Vijayalakshmi, a resident of P N Palayam, was working as a sweeper at the complex and was on duty at the spot from 8. 30 am. By 10 am, her son Saravanakumar came to know that his mother was inside the building.
Keerthana, one of the victims, had joined the stock market company a week ago. Another sweeper named Margaret was working for the entire complex and was trapped in the building.
The two women who jumped off the third floor were employees of the stock marketing company. They survived with injuries to the hip and legs. The whole office space of Sharekhan was burnt in the fire and police could retrieve only a handbag from the spot.