Fire breaks out at Durbarmarg lounge bar, brought under control after hours; no casualties

A fire that broke out at the Liquid Lounge Bar on Durbarmarg in the capital, Kathmandu, on Sunday morning was brought under control after hours of effort. According to the District Police Range, Kathmandu, the fire broke out at 8:55 am. There were no human casualties.

Police said no one was inside the bar, located near Mahendra Salik, when the fire broke out.

According to Deputy Inspector General of Police Basanta Thapaliya, spokesperson for the Kathmandu Valley Police Office, Ranipokhari, two fire engines were initially sent, with the number later increased to five. After the bar's operator could not be reached, firefighters broke the windows and doors to put out the fire, and some parts of the structure had to be dismantled to bring it under control.

According to one account, the fire was put out in nearly four hours, while another account said it took about eight hours to bring it fully under control. Police said efforts are underway to call the operator to the scene.

The actual cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Police suspect, based on an initial assessment, that it may have been caused by an electrical short circuit. Police said the exact extent of the physical damage is yet to be determined, and that this is being collected and assessed.