Fire guts locked forest department quarters on Pali Road, goods worth over Rs 2 lakh burnt

A fire broke out in a locked government house in the forest department colony on Pali Road. As the house was locked, the fire kept spreading inside, and no one outside knew until smoke rose.

The house is near the forest department office. Brijesh Shrivastava, a clerk in the forest department, lives there with his family. No member of the family was at home when the fire broke out.

Neighbours reached the spot on seeing smoke rising from the roof. They first tried to put out the fire themselves and then informed the police and the fire department. Firefighters arrived and brought the fire under control. As it was doused in time, the government houses nearby remained safe. On receiving the news, forest department employees and contract workers also came to the spot.

Furniture and household goods kept in the house were burnt. According to an initial estimate, the loss is more than Rs 2 lakh. The actual loss is yet to be assessed.

The cause of the fire is not yet clear. A short circuit is suspected in the initial assessment, but the cause will be established only after an inquiry.