SWABI, Sept 26: Science lab instruments worth Rs1.7 million were reduced to ashes here on Monday night. The instruments and other equipment were purchased by three contractors for Rs2.7 million, provided by the district government, sources said.

The instruments and equipment were stored in Gulshanabad girls’ school. However, owing to lack of space, education officials ordered the contractors to shift some of the material to the building of the government primary school Walibaz Khan Koroona in Bamkhel area on Monday.

Watchman Sanaullah Bacha said: “I noticed some bad smell and when inspected the room of where the material was kept I saw fire was spreading. I called the head teacher and he informed district education officials who reached the spot.”

He said that the police also rushed to the spot. The executive district officer (literary) visited the site and inspected the damaged material. Later, the chairman of the education committee reached there.

It was learnt that the contractor held a meeting with officials of the local administration and apprised them of the incident.