Hyderabad: Short circuit sparks fire at Andhra Jyoti'

Hyderabad: A major fire broke out at the Andhra Jyoti office in Jubilee Hills on Saturday. The fire was sparked by a short circuit in an AC. Sources said that someone had turned on the AC on the second floor and left it unattended. Later, there was a short circuit due to voltage fluctuation and it led to sparks. The sparks soon turned into flames and the fire spread rapidly.

When contacted District Fire Officer (DFO) M. Srinivas Reddy said, “We got a call at 10:35 am and it was reported that there was a minor fire in the AC. However, within five minutes a neighbour in an adjacent building called us and reported that the fire is spreading rapidly. Within 10 minutes two mist bullets and a fire tender from Gowliguda were rushed to the spot.”

“The intensity of fire kept increasing and we had to rush four more fire tenders from Madhapur, Secunderabad, Langarhouz and Sanathnagar and a Bronto sky lift tender. The fire spread to all corners of the building and the second floor was completely gutted. Fifteen water tankers of HMWS-&SB were called to supply water,” the DFO said. The cellar and ground floor were safe but the furniture on the third floor got burnt. “As a precautionary measure we vacated neighbours. Thirty firemen were pressed into service,” Mr Srinivas Reddy said.