A 52-year-old time-keeper at the bus terminus in Tiruvannamalai town escaped unhurt after fire broke out in the small temporary shed within the premises on Thursday, resulting in thick smoke in the area.

Police said that it was around 11.30 a.m when S. Kumar, the time keeper, was busy verifying time charts of buses at the terminus he noticed thick smoke coming from old record books that was dumped in a corner of the shed. Immediately, he came out of the office and alerted co-workers and higher officials. Initially, they tried to douse the fire, but the fire spread to the entire office, which is 150 sq.ft. 

Based on alert, a six-member fire fighters’ team from Tiruvannamalai Town rushed to the spot. Before firefighters could reach the spot, fire gutted the office. After nearly an hour, fire fighters doused it. The entire facility got completely gutted. Record books, other documents and furniture were destroyed in the accident.

Commuters complained of severe eye irritation especially among children and senior citizens due to smoke from the office. A case was registered by Tiruvannamalai Town police. Police said fire from cigarette butts that fell on the old record books in the office might be the reason for the incident. A probe is underway.