According to a senior college official, a short circuit in the library’s server triggered the fire, extensively damaging hundreds of books in the section that housed old books. Image: PTI
Delhi: Massive fire in library of Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce
The rapidly-spreading fire prompted an emergency response from the Delhi Fire Services, with 11 fire tenders being dispatched
A massive fire broke out in the library of the Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce in northwest Delhi's Pitampura on Thursday morning (May 15).
The rapidly-spreading fire prompted an emergency response from the Delhi Fire Services (DFS).
'Hundreds of books damaged'
"A short circuit in the library’s server triggered the fire, extensively damaging hundreds of books in the section that housed old books.
The library is still filled with smoke, and a detailed assessment of the losses will be possible only once visibility improves," a senior college official told PTI.
DFS chief Atul Garg explained that the blaze had begun at around 8.55 am and quickly engulfed the first, second, and third floors of the four-storey library.
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Eleven fire tenders were dispatched to the Delhi college, and the fire was swiftly brought under control by 9.40 am, said Garg.
"Several window panes shattered due to the high flames, and the fire spread rapidly due to strong winds. Our teams responded swiftly and managed to douse the flames," a senior fire official said.
He also added that cooling operations were underway in the building.
No one injured
The officials said no students or staff were injured in the incident. The college administration has not yet released an official statement.
But sources within the institution say the situation could have resulted in injuries or casualties had the fire broken out after 10 am, as the library would have been open and more students would have been in the campus.
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"We have informed the police, who will investigate to determine the exact cause of the incident," the source added.
Videos go viral
Videos of the fires rampaging through the library went viral on social media.
The intensity of the flames seen from the library windows and thick black smoke billowing from the college premises were captured and spread online.
(With agency inputs)