A major fire broke out in the Andhra Pradesh High Court campus in the wee hours of Monday causing extensive damage to the judges' chambers and destroying the main library.
While top officials of the police and fire department are at the spot trying to ascertain the cause of the fire, initial reports suggested that it was caused by an electric short-circuit.
The chambers of four judges, including that of Chief Justice A. R. Dave, besides some court halls were destroyed in the fire. But, the biggest damage was cased to the library, which had an extensive collection of books, many of which were considered highly valuable.
Following the mishap, a holiday has been declared for the High Court on August 31 and September 1.
The AP High Court stands on the south bank of the river Musi. It is considered to be one of the finest buildings in the city, built in red and white stones in Saracenic style, by Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan.