The fire was believed to have originated within the sprawling dump yard before rapidly spreading to an adjacent area where hundreds of seized vehicles had been parked

Within minutes, flames engulfed several rows of automobiles, turning many of them into charred shells

The affected vehicles were reportedly kept on land under the control of the Greater Chennai Corporation

Eyewitnesses said towering flames and dense smoke could be seen from several kilometres away

The intensity of the blaze increased as combustible materials inside the dump yard fuelled the fire, making containment efforts difficult during the initial stages