Two storey building and a Transformer damages in devastating fire

A two-storey building of the Electricity Department located in the US Club was engulfed and burnt to ashes after a fire broke out in an electric transformer in Rich Mound in this capital.  Divisional Fire Officer Sukhdev said that six officers and 40 employees were involved in rescue operation.  If the hydrant had been found in time, the fire might have been brought under control earlier.He said that they could trace out fire hydrant with much difficulty. He said that one room and kitchen of this building could be saved.  A fire broke out in the electrical transformer here at 11.30 am and the fire reached the ceiling of one floor of this office of this electricity department through the wires.  Since the entire building was made of wood, it quickly caught fire.Meanwhile, fire engines were deployed  from the Mall Road to the spot, but due to the narrow road, it could not go beyond Ritiz Cinema.  A mini fire tenders  was pressed from Chhota Shimla fire station but  it got delayed as it had already gone to douse another forest fire in New Shimla.  Meanwhile, all the three fire stations of the city were alerted and fire tenders were called there, but the vehicles coming from Chhota Shimla side got stuck ahead of Ramchandra Chowk due to other vehicles on the road and could not reach the spot on time. Meanwhile this building kept burning.  The fire  personnel laid pipes to the hydrant located at a distance of about fifty feet from the spot so that the fire could be brought under control.  But as soon as the pipes were laid down it came that hydrant are not working. It was due to some construction there which was done close to the hydrant.  After this, another hydrant was found near Titla Hotel, five hundred meters away and about 25 pipes were laid here and then water could be delivered to the spot.  But by then this building was completely burnt. It was then a light fire tenders could reached onn the spot. With the help of the fire brigade staff, the fire was doused and two adjoining government buildings were also saved from burning.