Photos: Fire at Delhi’s Natural History Museum, several exhibits gutted

A massive fire broke out at the National Museum of Natural History in FICCI building in central Delhi in the wee hours of Tuesday. The fire broke out around 1.45 am on the top floor of the museum, located in FICCI Building in Mandi House, where some repair work was underway.

It quickly spread to all other floors of the building.

Smoke rising from the building of National Museum of Natural History in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

As many as 35 fire tenders were pressed into service. It took firefighters more than four hours to douse the blaze after which a cooling operation was launched which lasted for another few hours. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. There just a few people in the building, which was evacuated by the time fire officials reached at the scene. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

Six fire officials were rushed to hospital after they inhaled excessive smoke during the operation. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

Top officials of the police range and Delhi Fire Services rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. The damage caused by the fire is being estimated. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)

Established in 1972, the National Museum of Natural History in New Delhi is one of two museums focusing on nature in India. It functions under the Ministry of Environment and Forests. (Express Photo by Praveen Khanna)