Devastating fire guts Chamba school, blaze reported at PWD office in Palampur
Devastating fire guts Chamba school, blaze reported at PWD office in Palampur
Shimla, June 29
A devastating fire broke in a state Primary School at Saloh in the Kalhel Education Block of Chamba district’s Churah subdivision on Sunday evening, reducing the school building and all official records to ashes.
In a separate incident, a minor fire also broke out at the Public Works Department (PWD) Circle Office in Palampur in Kangra district, but was brought under control without causing any damage.
The fire at the Government Primary School broke out around 5 p.m. and spread rapidly, engulfing the entire building.
Three classrooms were completely destroyed in the blaze. Two LPG cylinders exploded during the incident, intensifying the flames and accelerating the spread of the fire. The school’s tin-sheet roof further fuelled the blaze, leaving little chance to save the structure.
Fortunately, the incident occurred on a Sunday when the school was closed, averting what could have been a major tragedy. School in-charge Kuldeep said the entire building, furniture, teaching material and official records were destroyed in the fire. The cause of the blaze is yet to be ascertained.
Local residents rushed to the spot and made efforts to douse the flames, but the fire had already caused extensive damage before it could be controlled.
In another incident, a fire broke out around 6 p.m. at the PWD Circle Office in Palampur after an electrical connection wire caught fire. The burning wire snapped, causing the flames to die out on their own before they could spread inside the office. Department officials said no property or records were damaged in the incident. Fire department official Surendra Kumar said no information regarding the incident was received by the department.
The back-to-back fire incidents have raised concerns amid the prevailing hot and dry weather conditions across Himachal Pradesh. A sharp rise in temperatures, prolonged dry spell and erratic weather during the onset of the monsoon have heightened the risk of fire incidents in several parts of the state.
Authorities have urged government departments and the public to exercise caution and ensure proper electrical and fire safety measures to prevent such incidents.
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