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2nd LD Writethru: Fire breaks out at Indian Parliament compound

Xinhua, March 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

A massive fire broke out on Sunday afternoon in the huge Indian Parliament compound in the heart of the Indian capital, without causing any casualty, said police.

According to initial reports, a fire broke out at the air conditioning plant of Parliament complex. At least 12 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

"We got a call about the fire at around 14:00 p.m. and ten fire tenders were rushed to the spot immediately to douse the blaze," a senior fire department official told the media.

A huge cloud of smoke was seen billowing out of the complex in the high security area in the national capital.

Television reports said the fire had been isolated and controlled. Efforts were being made to assess the damage caused by the blaze.

The round shaped parliament building, opened in 1927 and designed by British architect Edwin Lutyens, was closed on Sunday with few staff thought to be inside.

The area where the fire began was close to where a company of the paramilitary policemen was housed earlier.

A fire emergency was also declared at the Rasina Hill area, which connects the parliament building with the presidential palace and some key government offices. Endi