At least seven shops and an ATM of Canara Bank were completely gutted in a fire that broke out in the congested Lakkar Bazaar area here in the wee hours today.
A major devastation was averted as fire brigade officials fought the flames for nearly eight hours and prevented the blaze from spreading, officials said.
Shimla Deputy Commissioner, Amit Kashyap, who was among the first to reach the spot, helped avert further damage by removing LPG cylinders from an adjoining "dhaba".
The cause of fire was yet to be ascertained and an immediate relief of Rs 10,000 was disbursed to those who suffered damages, Kashyap said..
Immediately after receiving the information past midnight, eight fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the fire was completely extinguished around 9.00 am," Mall Road station Fire Officer Dharam Chand Sharma said.
Sharma himself sustained minor injuries while battling the blaze.
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur visited the spot today along with Education Minister Suresh Bhardwaj and Shimla SP Omapati Jamwal, and met the affected shopkeepers, and assured them of assistance from the government.
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