LAHORE: An inferno, which erupted in the regional office of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on Agerton Road late on Saturday night, was extinguished on Sunday.

Five floors of the building have been damaged and machinery worth billion of rupees was burnt. However, no casualty was reported in the fire incident, a Rescue 1122 spokesman said.

The fire engulfed top three floors of a multi-storey building of PTCL due to which landline and Internet services were affected across the city.

Fire vehicles, Rescue 1122 and other rescue teams reached the spot and started an operation. They extinguished the fire partially but the blaze erupted again on Sunday morning due to which ATMs, telephone, Internet and Emergency 15 services, 117 (Pakistan Railways) and all officials numbers across the city were suspended. According to PTCL sources, the services would be restored within few days.

The fire was controlled after hectic efforts. However, fire vehicles and Rescue 1122 teams are still on the spot. They rescued eight persons from the building, the spokesman said and added that five rescuers were also injured.

The DCO of Lahore said the fire was caused by short circuit as per initial investigations.—APP