Minor fire in Hyderabad's Jubilee Hall after Pranab visit

Hyderabad, July 1 (IANS) A minor fire broke out at the historic Jubilee Hall here Sunday, minutes after United Progressive Alliance (UPA) presidential candidate Pranab Mukherjee left the building, police said. No casualties were reported.

The fire is believed to have been caused by short circuit.

After Mukherjee came out of Jubilee Hall, smoke was seen billowing out from the rooftop of the majestic building as tar sheets caught fire.

The UPA candidate along with Congress general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and state Congress chief Botcha Satyanarayana had left for a star hotel when the fire broke out.

Mukherjee had arrived here from Chennai Sunday morning to address a meeting of Congress legislators.

A fire tender rushed to the scene.

State minister D. Sridhar Babau described it as a 'minor' incident.

The building houses the state legislative council and is also used for hosting receptions to visiting dignitaries.

Located in the Public Gardens in the heart of the city, Jubilee Hall was built in 1913 during the reign of Seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, the ruler of then Hyderabad state. The building was so named as the silver jubilee coronation of Osman Ali Khan was held there.