State Bank of India (SBI) will soon conduct a fire safety audit in its branches across the country following the recent fire accident at one of its locations in Chennai.
“Though it is a routine periodical exercise, the proposed one will be more intensive,” said PS Prakash Rao, Chief General Manager, SBI.
On Saturday, a major fire broke out in a heritage building on Rajaji Salai in Chennai, which housed SBI’s three branches.
Forensic team
A forensic team has visited the site and the reasons for the fire will soon be known, Rao said. It could be due to an electrical short circuit. He ruled out the fire being caused by a kitchen on the second floor of the building.
“In fact, the kitchen was not gutted,” he said.
Rao pointed out that all customer-related data was safe because of the backup system. Even the currency chest and safety lockers were not impacted.
Facility shifted “We have shifted all the 14 locker cabinets to the new facility at Egmore, and customers have started using them,” he said. Some furniture was gutted and some files were destroyed.
The total loss of property on the premises, where the Chennai Main Branch, Rajaji Salai Branch and SME Chennai Branch were located, has not been completed.
The bank has announced that the Chennai Main Branch will now function at the Broadway Branch, Rajaji Salai Branch at Station Road, Egmore, and SME Chennai Branch at the SME T Nagar Branch till further notification.
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