Fire damages Lok Sabha deputy speaker's room

A suspected short-circuit causes a minor fire in the parliament house complex in New Delhi on Tuesday, damaging Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal's room.

A suspected short-circuit caused a minor fire in the parliament house complex in New Delhi on Tuesday, damaging Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal's room.

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The fire was extinguished in about 10 minutes, officials said.

Atwal was not in the room, number 1A, on the ground floor of the complex when the fire broke out at around 3.45 pm.

Two fire engines were rushed to the spot but by then the blaze had been put off with the help of about a dozen fire extinguishers, the officials said. A number of police and fire brigade officers also rushed to the spot.

Flames were seen coming out of the room and the smoke even entered the adjacent Central Hall.

As soon as the flames were noticed, an official of the Watch and Ward Staff was heard shouting: "Cut off the power, cut off the power."

The cause of the fire is being investigated, officials said.