Major fire breaks out in JK secretariat in Srinagar

A major fire broke out in the annexe of the Civil Secretariat, the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government, in Srinagar on Thursday.

Flames and smoke started billowing from the two-storey wooden structure adjacent to the main building of the Civil Secretariat minutes before the various offices in the building were scheduled to open at 9.30 am, officials said.

The building, which houses offices of the education department and medical dispensary among other, was engulfed in flames within no time, they said.

They said it was not clear whether any employee was trapped in the building.

As many as 15-16 fire tenders were trying to douse the flames.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

Photograph: Courtesy: http://jkgad.nic.in/