UD Ministry office gutted as fire breaks out in Nirman Bhawan

The second floor of Nirman Bhawan, which houses a number of Central ministries and allied departments, was gutted after a fire broke out around 10.30 am on Thursday.

The fire engulfed the Union Urban Development (UD) Ministry office, damaging airconditioners, photostat machines, furniture and official documents. No casualty was reported, police said.

Personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards the building, raised an alarm after they spotted smoke billowing from the cable duct on the second floor.

The fire was spotted in an airconditioner in room number 220 of the building's 'C' wing. Soon, eight fire-tenders reached the spot and it took them around 40 minutes to douse the fire, police said.

"The fire was controlled by 11.20 am. Only some documents and furniture were damaged. The exact cause of the fire is not clear. Preliminary investigation suggests a short circuit in the cable duct," a fireman said.

An official said two persons were rescued from the building. "Timely response by CISF team prevented a major fire like the one that had broken out at Secretariat building in Mumbai on June 22," a CISF statement said.

ALSO READ

Ghalib returns home, his haveli opens today as public memorial

Cross at your own risk

Verdict in Dec 16 rape case expected by month-end: Neeraj Kumar

Read and Digest