News | News Headlines | World News | Breaking News | News Updates

Meerut Fire: 30-40 per cent of the mall damaged

Thirty to fourty per cent of the plush shopping mall-cum-multiplex in an upmarket locality here has suffered severe damages as a major fire engulfed the building last night prompting the district administration to order an inquiry into the incident.

There was no casualty in the fire that broke out in PVS Mall in Shastri Nagar area of the town last night due to a suspected short circuit in the basement of the building.
Though the economic loss caused due to the fire could not to be ascertained immediately, a senior police official at the site said that about 30-40 per cent of the building have suffered severe damages.

One portion of the building which houses a super market has almost damaged completely while the other side that has multiplex has no major damages.
District Additional District Magistrate has been asked to conduct an inquiry and he will be assisted by Superintendent Engineer (PWD) and Superintendent Engineer (Power).
"Any authority found guilty of giving approval to the building without proper checking will face the music," District Magistrate Mukesh Meshram said.

The screening of films was on in the three cinema halls located in the basement when the fire erupted and Meshram said all people were evacuated before the flames could trap them in the sprawling complex.

The fire, which broke out at around 7.15 PM, was initially brought under control by fire tenders from Meerut but it suddenly erupted again and spread to the first floor of the mega mall.

This is the second fire in four months in Meerut as an electronic goods exhibition at Victoria Park on April 10 this year had taken a toll of 64 people.

posted by News India @ 6:37 AM