LAHORE: Flames engulfed the Musicology Department of the National College of Arts at around 4pm on Thursday turning the department into ashes.

The fire broke out owing to, what college authorities say, a short circuit in UPS batteries.

“The Musicology Department has gone to ashes while the Film and TV Department has also been damaged,” NCA Principal Murtaza Jaffri told Dawn.

He said since the Musicology Department had solid wood fixed to it a century and a half ago, it took pretty good time to burn up.

The fire was extinguished in five hours. A couple of water carriages from the fire brigade have been asked to stay at the college till morning to avoid any sudden eruption of the fire.

The NCA principal requested the Punjab government to make arrangement for handing over the building adjacent to NCA where ombudsman’s office is located since that was the only plausible solution to the misfortune the NCA went through.

To him, the college now needs space to reestablish musicology and Film TV departments in that building.

MURDER: A 14-year-old boy was allegedly strangulated by his fellow over a minor issue in a Madarassa, Manawan police said.

A police official said suspect Hussain, 15, and Mueed scuffled after arguments over some petty issue on the seminary premises. Other students present on the occasion didn’t interfere to save Mueed. Police detained the suspect and the mosque Imam.

Published in Dawn, July 20th, 2018