Fire in Pragati Maidan complex

NEW DELHI: A major fire broke out at Pragati Maidan complex, venue for the three-day international conference on information and communication technology, here this morning.

The fire broke out at around 7.50 am in Hall No 7 of the complex, gutting properties like furniture and air-conditioners inside the hall.

Minister of State for Human Resources Development D Purandeshwari was to attend a function in the hall later in the day.

Eighteen fire tenders were rushed to the spot and it took around two hours to contain the flame, fire brigade officials said.

Chief Fire Officer R C Sharma said furniture, wooden material and paintings were destroyed in the incident.

The fire safety norms were functional and working. Despite being an old building, the alarm system and the fire hydrant machine were working, he said.

An inquiry has been constituted to probe into the reasons behind the incident, he said.