Photographs: Umar Ganie
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.
Official sources said the fire started inside the wooden structure and quickly engulfed the building.
Reportage: Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar
Click on NEXT for more...
Major fire destroys part of JK secretariat
Photographs: Umar Ganie
Though fire tenders were rushed to the spot, the blaze could not be contained in time and it destroyed the entire annexe.
The block housed administrative departments of higher education, planning and science and technology.
"The flames have been doused," said a fire service department officer.
Click on NEXT for more...
Major fire destroys part of JK secretariat
Photographs: Umar Ganie
Fire tenders had reached the spot within minutes as the fire service headquarters is located adjacent to the civil secretariat complex.
The secretariat complex houses the offices of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his ministers and top bureaucrats.
Crucial records of the concerned departments were reportedly destroyed in the blaze.
Click on NEXT for more...
article