Fire breaks out in Kasauli Church, Pastor seeks probe

Kasauli, Nov 12 (UNI) A fire broke out in the Baptist Church in tourist resort of Kasauli in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, damaging part of the British-time brick and wood building and expensive wooden furniture.

According to police sources, the fire broke out around 0030 hrs last night due to a short circuit near the metre and spread to the ceiling, door and other parts of the Church situated near the local court complex.

Two fire tenders, one rushed in from neighbouring Parwanoo town, battled for about three hours to bring the fire under control, police said.

According to the Pastor, Mr Ashok Massey, the entrance doors, part of the ceiling, windows and rare wooden furniture of the church built in 1923, were burnt in the fire. The damage, which would be assessed later, was bound to be in lakhs due to expensive wooden material razed to ashes, he added.

He did not agree with the police claim that the fire was caused by a short-circuit and wanted a thorough probe into the incident.

He stressed that the attempts by ''mischievous elements to disrupt the age-old cordial social amity in the hill town, would not be allowed to succeed.'' The police sources, however, ruled out possibility of sabotage or mischief in the incident.

UNI XC JN RP AS1840