Chopal grocery shop gutted, two injured

Shimla, January 30

A grocery shop was gutted at Nerwa in Chopal of Shimla district late last night. A Home Guard jawan and a chowkidar working with the HRTC sustained burn injuries following a gas cylinder exploded during fire-fighting operations. They were admitted to hospital at Nerwa.

The fire broke out past midnight and the police along with the staff of the HRTC joined by locals to extinguish the fire. The shop near the local bus stand was hired by Kalimuddin and fire was noticed after he locked the shop and left for home, the police said.

The staff of the HRTC noticed the fire and informed the police and during fire-fighting, a gas cylinder exploded and Home Guard jawan Roshan Lal and chowkidar Rajinder, who were assisting in extinguishing the fire, sustained burns and rushed to hospital.

The fire spread fast and the shop was gutted completely by the time it was brought under control. The fire was probably caused due to short-circuit.