MADURAI: A major fire at the Tamil Nadu Thermal Power Station (TTPS) in Tuticorin forced plant authorities to shut down three out of five units, with fire tenders struggling for more than 12 hours to bring the blaze under control.
The TTPS comprises five units, each with a capacity of 210 megawatts, generating a total of 1,050 MW of power from coal. All units except Unit 2 were operational, while Unit 2 was on standby mode on Saturday.

Around 10 p.m. on Saturday, Unit 1 tripped following the bursting of a station switchgear, leading to a disturbance in the 6.6KV internal power supply. As a result, Unit 3 also tripped due to the power supply disruption, according to plant authorities. Within minutes, smoke was detected in Unit 1’s switchgear, followed by a major fire in the cable gallery, officials said.
The station fire tender was deployed, and the Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services were alerted. Additional fire tenders from VOC Port, NTPL, SPIC, and fire stations in Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Tenkasi, and Madurai rushed to the scene.
More than 150 fire personnel and 20 fire vehicles were deployed to combat the fire, which raged for hours before finally being brought under control after 12 hours.
District Collector K. Elambahavath visited TTPS to assess the fire damage. Addressing reporters, he stated that the fire broke out in the cables of Units 1 and 2, but fire tenders managed to prevent it from spreading to the remaining units. Although the flames were extinguished, smoke and minor flare-ups continued in the plant’s interior. “Efforts are underway to completely put out the fire. TTPS engineers have cleared paths for fire tenders to access critical areas. Special equipment and water tankers from Tuticorin Corporation and Tuticorin Port have also been brought in,” said the collector.
Elambahavath assured that the fire would be completely doused. No casualties or injuries were reported, though some firefighters suffered from suffocation and received treatment at a hospital.
TNEB officials confirmed that Units 4 and 5 remain operational, while Units 1 to 3 are shut down, affecting a 630 MW power supply. Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Chairman and Managing Director Dr. J. Radhakrishnan stated that all efforts were being made to ensure that the power supply to the grid remained unaffected despite the fire. Further investigation and mitigation measures are underway, he added.
As a precautionary measure, plant authorities have purged hydrogen gas from the generators of Units 1 to 3 and drained turbine lubricating oil tanks. The affected areas are being continuously monitored for residual fire and smoke, Radhakrishnan said.