Major fire at civil secretariat; two firemen injured

July- 11, 2013- SRINAGAR: Firefighters spray water to douse the rising flames of Secretariat building in Srinagar on Thursday. Massive fire broke out in a building on the premises of Civil Secretariat. The fire started mysteriously in a building adjacent to the main complex that houses the office of region's Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his ministers and other top bureaucrats. Photo / Mohd Amin War

SRINAGAR :  A major fire broke out at one of the structures in civil secretariat, the seat of Jammu and Kashmir government in Srinagar, destroying guard room, bunkers and  window panes of nearby residential houses today.
Two firemen also suffered injuries during fire fighting operation.
The main gate of the civil secretariat has been closed and nobody was allowed to enter there.
Official sources said a fire broke out in one of the  structures from the rare side of the secretariat shortly  before work could start in the office of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, his cabinet colleagues, top bureaucrats and other  heads of departments.
The fire spread to entire structure, mostly wooden, within  minutes before the fire tenders rushed from different parts  of the city, including fire headquarters Batmaloo.
Since no media person was allowed to enter the area and  fire control room and police were tight lipped, exact damage  was not immediately known.
The sources said some rooms of security force personnel, a number of security force bunkers on on rare side near the  main seven-storied building besides other record rooms were destroyed in the inferno.
Two fire brigade personnel identified as Ashiq Hussain and  Ghulam Rasool were injured while trying to control the flames.
Residents of nearby Shutrashahi protested against the  government after window panes of their houses were damaged  due to impact of the heat.
(AGENCIES)