A portion of the heritage structure, on the Mysuru Palace premises, was damaged as fire broke out in a ATM centre, near the Palace’s Varaha Gate, here, on Friday.
While currency notes worth lakhs of rupees in the ATM machine, documents and furniture were destroyed in the fire, a ticket counter close to the ATM centre was also damaged. However, the security personnel managed to bring out the weapons from the security room to safety.
A few morning strollers noticed thick smoke inside the ticket counter around 6.10 am and alerted the Saraswathipuram Fire brigade. The Fire and Emergency personnel took nearly an hour to put off the fire. A fire officer said that the ATM machine was burning and fire was seen from the ticket counter also. “We managed to bring out the weapons, including six rifles, police trunks and others, safely from the security room,” said the official.
The battery fixed in the ATM exploded due to overheat and due to the intensity of the explosion, the room has been damaged. As the fire caught the ATM machine, electric short circuit has been caused.
Following the fire accident, a dog squad and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad visited the spot.
According to sources, the ATM security personnel had left the centre just 20 minutes before the fire accident.
A police official said, the National Security Guard, a security agency, had opposed the opening of an ATM kiosk on the Palace premises owing to security issues. However, an ATM of the State Bank of India (SBI) is operational since 2015 after obtaining permission from the Palace Board.
Though the Fire and Emergency Services department has recommended formation of a task force at the Palace, which is lit up with more than one lakh bulbs, for safety purpose in 2013 itself, the authorities have not considered the recommendation. It may be recalled that on 28 February, 1897, during the marriage ceremony of princess Jayalakshmamanni the old palace was gutted.
Mysuru Palace Board Deputy Director, T S Subramanya, said, to avoid an electric short circuit, separate electric lines have been provided to the gates and the Palace. No major damage has been caused for the heritage structure, he said.