A massive fire broke out at the Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) building in Kanpur on Thursday, police said.
No one was injured in the incident as the office had not opened at the time the fire broke out.
However, police said that furniture, records, computers and other electrical items on the second and third floors were completely gutted.
The LIC building is a prominent landmark in Kanpur. The fire broke out at 9 a.m. on the third floor.
People noticed the fire after they saw a mass of smoke coming out from the building. Five fire tenders were rushed to contain the fire.
"After more than two hours, the fire was brought under control," a fire department officer told IANS.
"Prima facie the fire appeared to have begun from a short circuit," he added.