Government office burns down in Kashmir

A large blaze Monday gutted the district magistrate's office in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, officials said.

"Fire started in the office in Pulwama district around 3.30 p.m. Timely action by the staff of the office saved official records," an official here told IANS.

"Fire tenders were immediately pressed into service to douse the flames. Til last reports came in, fire was still raging," the official said, adding initial reports indicate a short circuit caused the blaze.