UPPER DIR: Five rooms of the under-construction Lowari Tunnel platform at the Upper Dir portal were gutted here on Wednesday when fire broke out due to a short circuit. However, there was no casualty.

Sources at the tunnel said that the fire broke out in one of the rooms built for housing contractors, workers and security personnel at the tunnel platform due to a short circuit at 12:30pm.

They said that the fire engulfed most part of the structure and as a result five rooms were gutted.

They said that security personnel deployed for manning the tunnel, Dir Levies and tunnel staff soon reached the site.

They said that the fire brigade engines reached the site after receiving a rescue call and saved the remaining rooms by extinguishing the fire.

One person fainted during the rescue work due to smoke at the site, said officials at the tunnel.

The sources said that ration of security forces stored at the building was also destroyed by fire. However, arms and ammunition had been rescued.

They said that three rooms were in the use of security personnel while two rooms were being used by the contractors and workers of the tunnel’s construction company.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2017