Opposition BJP and CPI(M) expressed shock over two major fire mishaps occurred in this capital town yesterday, which gutted down the historic Gorton Castle building of Raj era and major portion of commercial place.
BJP Lok Sabha MP Virender Kashyap today with Principal Accountant General of Himachal Pradesh Mr. Satish Lamba expressed shock over major fire broke out in the historic Gorton Castle building here yesterday.
Mr. Kashayp assured Mr. Lamba that party would raise the issue to early reconstruction of gutted building as its two floors gutted down in the early hours of 28th January, causing huge damage to the top two floors of the structure as well as destruction and damage of crucial records.
MP said that building was the jewel of this Raj day town and this incident is big scar on the beauty of this capital town. He stressed the need to adopt foolproof arrangements to deal with such mishaps in the future.
Meanwhile, state administration had instituted a magisterial probe to find out the reason of fire as cause of fire was not immediately evident though it spread rapidly aided by strong winds and inflammable materials such as wood and insulation material.
The Principal of AG office, Mr. Satish Lamba stated in a statement issued today that Army command and local administration had done commendable job to save rest of the property as they readily responded resulting in supplementing of the damage control efforts.
The full extent of the loss of records and equipment is yet ascertainable though some of it was retrieved by the army personnel. Further planning is being done in consultation with the CPWD, police and other district authorities.
The Gorton Castle is a heritage building which functioned as the secretariat of the government of India till independence after which it housed the office of the AG Punjab.
Co-ordinated efforts by the Himachal Fire Service and other district authorities brought the fire under control after about 7 hours with the help of local and outstation fire tenders, he said.
In separate statement BJP and CPI(M) spokesman also express sadness over this mishap seeking early measure to restore the working of AG office after making shifting within the saved building and other places.
They have also expressed shock over gutted down of three shops at grocery market at the heart of town yesterday seeking compensation to the affected party in the mishaps.
