Fire broke out on the sixth floor of the National Museum of Natural History in Delhi and spread to other floors.
Highlights
- New museum to be built on 6.5 acres of land near Pragati Maidan in Delhi
- Environment Minister ordered a safety audit of 34 museums across country
- Officials confirmed that the basic fire safety equipment was not working
, the government has announced that a replacement will be built on 6.5 acres near Pragati Maidan, a famous landmark in the capital, for an estimated cost of 225 crores.
Last night, a fire engulfed the museum which had exhibits of plants and animals, among them a 160-million-year-old dinosaur fossil.
More than a hundred firemen battled for about three hours to douse the flames that broke on the top floor. Officials confirmed that basic fire safety equipment was not working. "If the fire provisions were working, the fire could have been controlled well in time," said Rajesh Panwar, deputy chief of the Delhi Fire Service.
More than a hundred firemen battled for about three hours to douse the flames that broke on the top floor of the National Museum of Natural History.
Though the cause of the fire is yet to be determined, the police have ruled out sabotage based on their investigation. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has ordered a fire safety audit of 34 museums across the country to ensure the safety of thousands of daily visitors.
A popular site for school visits, the
National Museum of Natural History was set up in 1978 and contained preserved specimens of butterflies, frogs, snakes, lizards as well as mounted specimens of tigers and leopards.