Hyderabad: A minor fire broke out at All Saints High School, Abids, on Thursday afternoon in a cellar below the stage where old question papers were stored.
A case was registered against the school for constructing the cellar under the open dais. Fire officials reached the spot and it took an hour to douse the fire. No casualty was reported.
The cellar at the school was filled with old question papers and some old furniture. At the time of the fire, there were around 1,800 school children in the premise.
Speaking to this newspaper, district fire safety officer M. Srinivas Reddy said, “According to the rules, they shouldn't have constructed the cellar in the school and that too below the assembly open dais. They are not supposed to store fire-catching or hazardous material in the cellar. We have registered a case under the Fire Service Act and further investigation is underway. If we find that they are violating any safety rules stringent action will be taken on them.”
He added, “We got a call at around 12.15 pm in the afternoon. We immediately reached the spot and asked the children to evacuate the school building. They had taken the fire clearance certificate in 2011.” Regional Fire Officer Papaya also visited the spot.
Two fire engines were sent and it took an hour to douse the fire and clearing it for re-entry.
After hearing the news in the media, panic-stricken parents rushed to the spot and relaxed only when they were assured that there was no danger to their children.
