Thiruvananthapuram: Timely action by fire force saved rare animals and plants and art-treasures when a fire broke out in the vast museum-cum-zoo compound in the thickly wooded green-space in the heart of the city on September 16.

The fire led to anxious moments for a while before it was put out by the fire fighters whose timely arrival and quick action saved rare plants and a variety of animals, birds and reptiles caged in the zoo, a museum official said.

A partly dried tree was consumed by flames, spread from burning garbage in the compound, sources said.

The "Chitralaya" of the museum exhibits rare paintings, including the works of renowned Raja Ravi Varma.

Being a holiday for the zoo, there was no visitor in the complex when the fire broke out.

PTI