Kathmandu, October 13

A massive fire engulfed Durbar Marg-based Victory Lounge this evening, destroying property worth millions of rupees.

Victory Lounge is one of the famous clubs among youngsters in Kathmandu. The club caught fire due to electrical short circuit at around 6:00pm today, according to the club’s Manager Suraj Karki.

The club is located on the fifth floor of a private building. “Property worth around Rs 50 million has been destroyed by the fire,” Karki said.

The club staffers had tried to douse the fire immediately after it broke out. He said, “When it started the fire was small, so the staffers themselves tried to bring it under control. But soon it grew bigger and went out of control and then we sought the help of police.” Karki said the fire brigades had reached the site as the fire started spreading all over the floor, at around 6:45 pm.

Thick flames of fire that fed on alcoholic beverages and other highly flammable materials in the club rose high as hundreds of pedestrians and neighbours watched in fear.

The incident lasted for more than two hours creating traffic jam in the area. Head of Kathmandu Fire Brigade at Basantapur, Lila Raj Gatha Magar said the fire was taken into control at around 8:30pm. “We suspect that everything in the club perished due to fire, but exact assessment of the damage is yet to be made,” said Magar.