KASUR: A fire devoured valuables at the upper storey and computer lab of the Government Girls High School, Allahabad, on Sunday as high-tension wires dangling over the building sparked during wind.

The CCTV cameras and electricity wiring were damaged and the school administration put out the fire after Lesco switched off power.

The incident spread panic among the students of Grade 8 who appeared for their Urdu paper in the examination hall. Constant sparking and flames shocked the students who scampered towards the ground but returned.

Six of the students ‘fell unconscious’ due to the shock and were treated in the school.

The examination restarted after a delay of two hours but the students were given ample time to complete their paper.

It is learnt that fire-fighters from Pattoki reached there after two and-a-half hours of the incident. It’s the third such incident in the area as high-tension wires dangle over the residential area and people’s repeated reminders to Lesco authorities to solve the issue remain unheeded.

ARRESTS: The Mustafabad police on Sunday arrested 33 people and registered a case against 45 others for blocking road to protest a ‘robbery incident’.

Hundreds of people threw traffic out of gear on Ferozepur Road and protested against the police for failing to protect life and property of citizens.

Tahir Mahmood said 10 armed men including Munir Ahmad took away Rs500,000 from his house after manhandling the inmates. He said he informed emergency police (15) but there was no response for several hours.

It sparked off protest and hundreds of people gathered at Ferozepur Road and chanted slogans against the police. The Mustafabad police arrested 33 of the protesters and later registered a case against 45 others.

SHO Malik Muhammad Arif told journalists that Mahmood and Munir had dispute and were engaged in litigation.

He said Mahmood misinformed the police and gathered people to protest over a fake issue.

Published in Dawn March 9th , 2015

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