Fire at Panjab University office damages records

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 14

A major fire broke out in the administration building of Panjab University in the early hours on Sunday, destroying at least part of the records of the accounts section, though no casualty was reported.

Part of the first floor of the administration building, Dewan Anand Kumar Hall, was engulfed by the fire.

The chief of university security reached a little after 3 am, after he received information that smoke was seen coming out of the first floor. The fire service and police were informed, who reached the spot to douse the fire, which took two hours.

The fire affected the Accounts, Grants and Plan sections. Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover, Registrar and other senior officials of the university also reached the spot. The damage to the records is being assessed.

An enquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of fire. However, there has been no loss of life or injury to anyone.

Meanwhile, former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, local BJP president Sanjay Tandon and other senators visited the university to assess the damage caused by the fire. Experts from the Forensic Department also reached the spot to ascertain the exact cause of the fire.

Admitting that the university was not adequately prepared for the disaster, the Vice-Chancellor said each building would now be assessed to make the campus secure. He, however, claimed that all data lost in the fire would be retrieved.

The university has been embroiled in a running feud with the government over fund shortage.