Fire at HDFC Bank in Mohali

Mohali, June 26

Goods, including computers and furniture, worth several lakhs and  important documents were destroyed in a fire that broke out at the Phase VII branch of HDFC Bank this morning.

Fortunately, nobody, including students who were taking tuitions on the upper floor of the building, sustained any injury in the incident, which occurred around 11.30 am.

Being a national holiday because of Eid, nobody was in the bank at the time of the incident. The watchman of the bank, Baldeep Singh, saw smoke emanating from the windows of the locked branch. He raised the alarm and informed the fire office immediately at 11.34 am. Two fire engines were pressed into service to control the flames. Fire officials broke the locks of the shutter and a part of the wall at the rear of the building to enter the bank. It took almost two hours to douse the fire, said eyewitnesses.

Fifteen computers, furniture and important documents were destroyed in the fire. However, lockers and cash, lying in the basement, and two ATMs, installed on the ground floor, were found safe as the fire did not reach there.

“A short circuit may have led to the fire incident,” said ML Sood, local fire officer. — TNS

Records safe, nothing to worry: Bank official

A senior official of the bank, Rajiv Banerjee, said there was no cause of worry for the customers. “We have lost some furniture and other goods in the fire, but the services to our customers will remain open on Tuesday. They need not worry as all records are safe,” said Banerjee. He said the loss was yet to be estimated. “It will run into lakhs, but everything was insured,” he said.