Fire damages examination branch of Punjabi varsity

Patiala: A fire engulfed the examination branch building of Punjabi University, Patiala, on Thursday morning, suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit. Fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the flames. which spread on the second and third floors of the building, and took around three hours to douse them.The university has set up two separate probe committees to investigate the incident. While one committee will probe the reasons behind the fire, the other will assess the full extent of the damage caused. The examination branch serves as a vital repository of student documents and academic records.Sources said most of the manual records destroyed were those of MA and BEd classes. However, university examination branch officials refused to corroborate it.The university public relations director, Daljit Ami said, “We are assessing the losses, but a huge record was burnt to ashes. Two committees have been formed, including one comprising the examination branch faculty members, to assess the damages made to the record.”Ami added that: “The other committee, comprising forensic team members, will look into the causes or reasons behind the fire. So far, no comments can be made about the reasons behind the fire. None of the university guards fainted or fell unconscious, as is being said. While dousing the flames, the precautionary measures were taken to avoid damaging the remaining official record.”“We were informed about the blaze around 7.30am, following which two fire tenders were rushed to the campus. As smoke made it difficult for the firemen to enter the building, some window panes had to be broken to gain entry,” Surinder Kumar, assistant divisional fire officer, Patiala, shared with the media..