Sloan, May 1 — A fire broke out late Wednesday night at a canteen near the Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry in Nauni, completely destroying the establishment and resulting in an estimated loss of Rs 5 lakh.
The blaze, which erupted around 10:20 p.m., spread rapidly due to the presence of inflammable materials, including stored fuel, and consumed the entire structure. Items lost in the fire included food supplies, kitchen utensils, storage racks, and cupboards.
“There were no casualties, but the canteen was gutted entirely,” said Santosh Sharma, Commandant of the Home Guards.
“A four-member fire crew managed to control the flames using a single water tender, and it took them several hours to bring it under control.”
The canteen was operated by Uday Thakur. While the exact cause of the fire remains under investigation, preliminary findings point to a possible electrical short-circuit.
Authorities are continuing their inquiry into the incident.
