Tirupati: Alert security personnel of the State Bank of India (SBI) main branch, located behind the shrine of Lord Govindaswamy, averted a major fire mishap, on November 12 morning.

Bank sources said that due to electric short circuit on the wet walls following rains, a fire broke out in the wee hours across the daily transaction counter including computers, which were reduced to ashes.

After an hour-long battle the fire was extinguished, thanks to alert security personnel of the bank.

The roof of the money counting hall collapsed due to heavy generation of heat in the mishap, the sources said.

However, important records and a cash of Rs 176 crore kept in the strong room were found intact, the sources said.

Following the mishap, daily transactions in the bank has been suspended for the day, the sources said.

PTI