Plumes of smoke emanated from the camp office of a Minister, minutes before he was to reach the place, here on Monday. There was no danger to anyone’s life, fire officials said.
A minor fire broke out and the smoke soon engulfed the upper portion – which include the bedroom and lounge area, at the local camp office of Minister for Energy and SC Development G. Jagadish Reddy around noon, officials reported.
According to the Fire Officer K. Shyamsunder Reddy, a short circuit in the air-conditioner wiring could have triggered the fire. “The refrigerant gas unit appears to be charged fully, hence this impact,” he suspected. Fire-fighting tenders soon extinguished the fire. However, there was a loss of property from the accident and the fire and thick smoke damaged the furniture and blackened the walls. No one was injured, he said.
Mr. Reddy who was to be present in the town for a farmer’s meet in the afternoon was en route from Suryapet, about 50 km from here, and was approaching the town. “I learnt that the Minister was nearby and hence wanted to keep the room cool, ready for him. But after sometime we saw this,” a local caretaker of the premises said.
Superintendent of Police N. Prakash Reddy, MP G. Sukhender Reddy and other local leaders inspected the place.