New Delhi:
A fire broke out at the Home Ministry office in North Block in Delhi today. The fire reportedly started at conference room number 102 on the second floor of the building. However, the situation was brought under control by the authorities after seven fire engines were rushed to the spot.
Home Minister P Chidambaram and Home Secretary RK Singh visited the site after the fire was doused. Officials from the Central Forensic Lab also inspected the spot where the fire broke out.
Reports say that the fire was caused by a short circuit. Sources have told NDTV that the short circuit could have been caused by an air-conditioner which was reportedly left running through the night.
"One possibility is a short circuit; the other could be because of some garbage at the window. It's just one part of the window that caught fire and it was put out very quickly. Four or five electrical cables were burnt," Mr Singh said today.
The extent of the damage caused by the fire is not known yet. However, sources say that any damage to important documents or property is unlikely.
Being a Sunday, not many people were present in the office when the fire erupted.
The fire in the Home Ministry office comes just two after a major fire broke out at the mantralaya in Mumbai in which five people died and many important documents were burnt.