One dies, property worth crores of rupees destroyed in fire

Dehra Dun, 26 Apr (UNI) One person died and property worth crores of rupees was destroyed in fire at Forest Department Lesa Depot in Champawat District.

SDM Tanakpur Navneet Pandey told UNI that one Kanwar Singh (55), working as a watchman, was charred to death in the fire yesterday.

It took more than 12 hours to fire fighters to control the blaze.

Nine fire tenders were pressed into extinguish the fire, he said.

All residential areas nearby were evacuated for safety reasons.

Tanakpur Thana-in-charge D L Verma said more than 2.18 lakh cans of Lesa used to make tarpin oil stored in the depot were totally damaged. The fire also badly affected more than two dozen of trees.

The total loss is estimated to be of Rs 26 crore, Mr Pandey said.

The reason of fire is being investigated.

UNI