Shimla: A fire broke out at a busy locality
in the heritage town of Chamba in the wee hours on Sunday
destroying property worth crores.
About a dozen shops and four heavily timbered old
buildings were reduced to ashes and around two dozen people
were rendered shelter less. However, there was no loss of
life.
The cause of fire was not known but it spread very fast
as all wooden structures were engulfed in flames.
The fire was noticed at around 3.30 AM and besides the
local fire brigade, finder tenders of ITBP, NHPC were pressed
into service and fire tenders from Pathankot and Dharamsala
were also summoned, Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, Sharab Negi
told.
The local police, district administration, Police, Home
Guards, ITBP and NHPC men fought the flames for nearly five
hours and fire was brought under control by 8.00 AM, he added.
He said that a major tragedy was averted as fire was
controlled before it could spread to surrounding buildings in
heavily populated market area.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, March 18, 2012, 17:13